Characteristics of Groundwater Level Fluctuation Due to Groundwater Reservoir for Water Dispute Resolution in Ulsan, Korea

Abstract

In the Ulsan area, dam development was actively promoted for large-scale industrial and population growth, but the conflict between cultural property preservation and securing water supply security became a longstanding social issue since the discovery of the Bangudae petroglyphs in the Sayeon dam submerged area. This study aims to analyze groundwater level fluctuation in the surrounding area of the Ulsan Teahwa river to evaluate if the groundwater reservoir installed at the mid-stream of the river can resolve water shortage problem in the Ulsan Metropolitan city while preserving the Bangudae petroglyphs. The results show that a water intake facility with the capacity of 30,000㎥/day installed in groundwater reservoir is expected to ensure water intake all year long. It is also estimated that the groundwater level decreases by at least 0.3m in an area within a radius of about 650m from the facility. The groundwater reservoir installed at the mid-stream of the Teahwa river is expected to make up the shortage amount of water due to the reduction of water level for preserving the Bangudae petroglyphs, which could resolve the existing water disputes in Ulsan, Korea.