(1) Reasons for Proposal
Due to the Amendment to the “Water Environment Conservation Act” (Act No. 16605, promulgated November 26, 2019, to be enforced November 27, 2020) made to mandate the installation of measuring instruments so as to enhance the control of wastewater treatment businesses, and to modify the upper limit on the penalty surcharges imposed so as to prevent any side effects of the penalty surcharge system, the Act aims to set forth matters delegated under the law and the matters necessary for the implementation thereof, by means such as specifying the scope of wastewater treatment businesses that are required to install measuring instruments and the detailed standards for imposing penalty surcharges, and to require the operation of the algae forecast system to prepare for warnings against algae and provide the forecast information to related agencies, thereby improving some shortcomings found in the operation of the current system.
(2) Major Provisions
A. Operation of algae forecast system and information provision (Article 28 (5) newly inserted)
Require the operation of an algae forecast system to prepare for warnings against algae and the provision of forecast information to related agencies such as raw water collection points and water treatment plants.
B. Method of disclosing measurement data from measuring instruments (Article 37(3) newly inserted)
Require the computerization of the measurement data sent to the Tele-Monitoring System Control Center and the disclosure of the annual quantity of discharged water pollutants, etc., by place of business on the Internet website of the Ministry of Environment and the computer network (the disclosure is due no later than June 30 every year).
C. Scope of wastewater treatment business operators that are required to install measuring instruments (attached Table 7)
 Mandate any wastewater treatment business operator that discharges part or all of its wastewater directly into the public waters, or brings in 200 cubic meters of wastewater per day into public wastewater treatment facilities or public sewage treatment facilities to install measuring instruments.
D. Modification of the standards on imposing penalty surcharges to be based on revenue (attached Table 14-2 to attached Table 17-2)
1) Set the amount of penalty surcharges against wastewater discharge facility installation business operators as the amount obtained via multiplying the daily amount of penalty surcharge, calculated by means of multiplying the annual revenue of a place of business that has committed a violation by 1/3600, by the period of business suspension.
2) Set the amount of penalty surcharges against wastewater treatment facility business operators as the amount obtained via multiplying the daily amount of penalty surcharge, calculated by means of multiplying the annual revenue of a place of business that has committed a violation by 1/730, by the period of business suspension.