Small-scale drinking water supply facilities (SDWSF) have long served as a primary source of drinking water in rural areas where local waterworks systems have not been established. However, their role and reliability have steadily declined due to the ...
Small-scale drinking water supply facilities (SDWSF) have long served as a primary source of drinking water in rural areas where local waterworks systems have not been established. However, their role and reliability have steadily declined due to the deterioration of raw water quality caused by urbanization and industrialization, shortages of professional management personnel, and recurring droughts and water quality incidents. In response, the government has actively promoted policies to convert SDWSF to local waterworks systems.
As such conversion policies are expected to continue, this study aims to propose policy improvement measures for the conversion of SDWSF to local waterworks. To this end, the current status of SDWSF and representative conversion cases were analyzed, and surveys were conducted among rural residents currently using SDWSF, residents in areas where SDWSF had already been converted to local waterworks, and public officials responsible for SDWSF management.
The results indicate that conversion projects should be designed with the highest priority given to local conditions, incorporating thorough field investigations and resident consultations, while comprehensively considering constructability, maintainability, hydraulic stability, and environmental factors. In addition, strict quality control, safety management, and construction supervision are required throughout the entire construction process.
Survey results showed that a majority of SDWSF users expressed distrust in their drinking water and demonstrated a strong consensus regarding the necessity of conversion to local waterworks. Residents in converted areas reported a significant improvement in trust in water quality, although perceptions of water tariffs remained high. Public officials also identified raw water quality deterioration as the most critical challenge and unanimously agreed on the necessity of converting SDWSF to local waterworks.
Policy improvement measures suggest that facilities with good-quality and sufficient raw water should be maintained and upgraded, whereas facilities facing serious water quality or quantity constraints should be converted to local waterworks in a phased manner. To support this approach, the establishment of a central government–led master plan and the development of standardized conversion guidelines are required.