Groundwater Act. Country/Territory Korea, Republic of Document type Legislation Date 1993 (2017) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Water Keyword Basic legislation Groundwater Freshwater pollution Pollution control Protected area Inspection Authorization/permit Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, East Asian Seas, Eastern Asia, North Pacific, North-West Pacific Abstract This Act provides for the proper development and utilization of groundwater i.e. water filling in the crevices of geological strata or rocks underground, and efficient preservation and management thereof by preventing its pollution. The Act consists of 41 articles divided into 7 Chapters: General provisions (I); Survey, development and utilization of groundwater (II); Preservation and management of groundwater (III); Construction business for development and utilization of groundwater (IV); Groundwater impact investigation agency (V); Securing and management of financial resources (V-2); Supplementary provisions (VI); Penal Provisions (VII). The Minister of Construction and Transportation shall: conduct a basic survey concerning the characteristics in reserve and the amount of exploitable groundwater of the whole nation (art. 5); establish a basic plan for the management of groundwater of the whole nation (art. 6). Articles 7 to 9 deal with matters related to: obtaining permits for the development and utilization of groundwater; making report on the development and utilization of groundwater; making report on completion of construction works, etc. The Mayor/Do governor may designate a groundwater preservation area pursuant to the specifications listed in article 12. Acts prohibited in the groundwater preservation area without a proper permit are specified in article 13. Any person who develops and utilizes groundwater with the necessary permit or authorization shall install the facilities necessary for preventing pollution of the groundwater (art. 16) and shall periodically undergo the inspection of water quality by the specialized inspection agency relating to the groundwater (art. 20). The Minister of Construction and Transportation shall conduct a survey on the changes in the water-level degrees and groundwater quality pollution of the groundwater by installing nationwide groundwater observation facilities and water quality measurement facilities for groundwater (arts. 17 and 18). Any person who intends to run the construction business for development and utilization of the groundwater, shall file a registration with the Mayor/Do governor. Full text English/Korean Website elaw.klri.re.kr References - Legislation Implemented by Enforcement Decree of the Groundwater Act. Legislation | Korea, Republic of | 1997 (2015) Keyword: Groundwater, Freshwater pollution, Pollution control, Protected area, Inspection Source: FAO, FAOLEX