Goheung-gun received an institutional commendation as the ‘nation’s best institution’ for operation and management of public wastewater treatment facilities. Goheung-gun (Governor Gong Young-min) announced that it was selected as the best (1st) management institution in the country in the ‘2024 Public Wastewater Treatment Facility Operation and Management Status Evaluation’ hosted by the Ministry of Habitat and will receive an institutional commendation and a reward of 15 million won.
In this evaluation, the Ministry of Environment evaluates operation and management performance and provides incentives too excellent institutions. Treatment facilities in operation in 106 local governments nationwide are divided into three groups (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ) according to capacity standards. , 1st to 3rd place for each group are finally selected thru the first evaluation by the basin (local) environmental office and the second evaluation by the Ministry of Environment review commitee on 27 items in three areas of operation and management. It went ahead.
The facility subject to evaluation in Goheung-gun is a public wastewater treatment facility that treats wastewater within the clean food complex in Donggang-myeon. In this operational management status evaluation, various items such as wastewater inflow rate, treatment efficiency, economic feasibility, safety management response ability, and facility operation expertise were comprehensively evaluated. It was recognized as the best (1st place) management organization in the country by group.
The county attended the ‘2024 Public Wastewater Treatment Facility Installation and Operation Conference’ held at Shinhwa World in Jeju on the 28th and disseminated best practices in operation and management to local governments and management agencies across the country. In addition, Shin Seung-min, Director of the Economy and Industry Department, was selected as a public servant of merit and received the Minister of environment Award.
A military official said, “there were difficulties in operation and management due to the aging of the public wastewater treatment plant, but as we were recognized for our passion and effort in operation, we will continue to work with the tenant company and management agency for efficient wastewater treatment.”
Meanwhile, goheung-gun (Governor Gong Young-min) Dream Start announced that it was selected as an excellent organization at the ‘2024 Dream Start Business Report Contest’ held in Jeju Island for two days from the 28th and received the Prime Minister’s Award.
This evaluation was conducted on 82 basic organizations in rural, mountainous, and fishing villages over three years from 2021 to 2023, and was evaluated on 30 indicators in 10 areas in 4 areas, including Dream Start organizational structure and management, and case management.
Goheung-gun received high praise for its provision of customized child-centered services, strengthening regional networks through public-private cooperation, and interest from local government heads.
County Governor Gong Young-min said, “Winning this Prime minister’s Award is the result of the efforts of all involved in the Dream Start project,” and added, “We will continue to spare no effort and support to ensure that children can grow up in a healthy and happy environment.”
The Dream start project is a child welfare project that supports vulnerable children to grow up healthy and safe, and Goheung-gun plans to continue to cooperate with more community resources to ensure thorough welfare.
goheung-gun Dream Start has established itself as a Dream Start mentor organization by visiting many local governments every year for benchmarking since 2015.
On the 29th, Goheung-gun (Governor Gong Young-min) conducted training on the prevention of four major violence (sexual harassment, sexual violence, prostitution, and domestic violence) for 47 high-ranking public officials of level 5 or higher.
The four major violence prevention trainings are legally mandatory training in accordance with the Framework Act on Gender Equality, and are being conducted every year as separate training for agency heads and high-ranking public officials becomes mandatory starting from 2021.
on this day, Professor Yeom Geon-ryeong of the Catholic University of Korea was invited and the training was conducted on understanding the four major forms of violence, cases of secondary damage and prevention measures, etc. In particular, the importance of the roles and responsibilities of high-ranking public officials in the workplace was emphasized to encourage high-ranking leaders to fulfill their roles. It became an possibility to strengthen our will to take action and prevent violence.
County Governor Gong Young-min, who attended the training, said, “Prevention of the four major violence goes beyond simple education; it is an significant issue that ensures that all members in the workplace can perform their work with respect and consideration.” he added,“High-ranking public officials are leading by example and showing respect and consideration.” “I hope you will spread the culture and make efforts to create a workplace culture where everyone can work well.”
Last April, Goheung-gun conducted face-to-face training to prevent the four major violence in the workplace for all employees, and is taking the lead in creating a safe county without violence by conducting violence prevention training to all towns and villages for village heads and other leaders.
Economy Queen Reporter Hana Choi Photo: Goheung-gun
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What are the best practices in wastewater management that other local governments can adopt from Goheung-gun?
Interview between the Editor of Time.news and Wastewater Management Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news, where we explore impactful stories shaping our environment and communities. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jisoo Kim, a leading expert in wastewater management. Recently, Goheung-gun was recognized as the ‘nation’s best institution’ for its exemplary operation of public wastewater treatment facilities. Dr. Kim, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Kim: thank you for having me.It’s a pleasure to discuss such an important topic.
Editor: Let’s dive into it! What does this commendation mean for Goheung-gun and how meaningful is this recognition?
Dr. Kim: This commendation represents a hallmark of excellence in managing public wastewater treatment facilities. Goheung-gun’s selection as the top management institution indicates that they excel in critical areas such as treatment efficiency, operational management, and safety protocols. It sets a benchmark for local governments nationwide and showcases what can be achieved through diligence and innovation.
Editor: The evaluation involved a comprehensive assessment method.Can you elaborate on how institutions are evaluated and what some of the key criteria are?
Dr. Kim: Certainly! The evaluation process conducted by the Ministry of Environment assesses various performance indicators across three groups based on capacity. The criteria include factors like wastewater inflow rate, treatment efficiency, economic feasibility, safety management, and overall expertise in facility operation. This ensures a holistic review of how well facilities are managed.
Editor: With Goheung-gun being subjected to such rigorous evaluation, what do you think they did especially well to achieve this recognition?
Dr. Kim: Goheung-gun demonstrated a commitment to high operational standards and innovative solutions despite the challenges, such as dealing with aging infrastructure. Their approach to proactive maintenance, alongside effective resource management and staff training, likely contributed significantly to their top ranking.Recognition of their efforts tells us a lot about the potential for improvement in these facilities.
Editor: They also shared their best practices at a recent conference. How important are gatherings like this for local governments and management agencies?
Dr. Kim: Conferences play a critical role in knowledge sharing and networking. Local governments can learn from each other’s successes and failures,which is invaluable for improving wastewater management practices. By disseminating best practices,institutions like Goheung-gun can lead others toward optimizing their operations and achieving similar recognition.
Editor: Considering the challenges posed by aging treatment plants, how can institutions prepare for future management and operational demands?
Dr. Kim: It’s vital for institutions to invest in regular maintenance, modernization of old infrastructure, and staff growth. Embracing new technologies, such as smart monitoring systems and enduring practices, can significantly enhance efficiency and reliability. Moreover, engaging the community and raising awareness about wastewater management can foster public support for necessary investments.
Editor: As more local governments look to Goheung-gun as a model,what key takeaways should they focus on replicating?
Dr. Kim: First, fostering a culture of continuous improvement is essential. Second, adopting data-driven approaches for operational management enhances responsiveness and efficiency. Lastly, collaboration with stakeholders, including the community and regulatory bodies, ensures comprehensive support for the initiatives undertaken.
Editor: Lastly,what future trends do you see in the field of wastewater management that could further transform how we handle our wastewater?
Dr. Kim: The future of wastewater management will likely see increased integration of technology, particularly AI and IoT, for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. Furthermore, there’s a growing emphasis on sustainability, such as water recycling and energy recovery from waste. These innovations will not onyl improve operational efficiencies but also contribute to larger environmental goals.
Editor: Dr. Kim, thank you for this enlightening discussion.It’s clear that with strategic planning and community engagement, institutions can make a monumental impact in wastewater management and environmental health.
Dr.Kim: Thank you for having me! it’s vital that we continue these conversations and share knowledge to preserve our environment for future generations.