Yeongdeungpo-gu Moves to Upgrade Sewer Lines in Flood-Prone Areas

Yeongdeungpo-gu is pushing ahead with a sewer infrastructure overhaul targeting flood-prone areas, taking preemptive steps against extreme summer rainfall.

The project follows the devastating floods that struck the district in August 2022, when rainfall of 111 millimeters per hour inundated areas around Daedong Elementary School, Seongnak Gas Station and Daelim Woori Market.

In the aftermath, the district commissioned a study to analyze the causes of the flooding and develop countermeasures. The study identified 52 sewer lines in need of repair and established a comprehensive flood-prevention plan, ranking them by priority.

The district is investing about 15 billion won ($10.8 million) to carry out the repairs in phases. Work on the top-priority stretch along Gyeongin-ro 77-gil was completed in December 2024. Construction on the second-priority project — box culvert improvements near Daedong Elementary School — broke ground in June, and work on the third-priority project near Seongnak Gas Station is also now underway.

Once the work is complete, bottlenecks in the sewer network are expected to be eliminated and overall drainage capacity significantly increased. Large box-shaped underground culverts will be installed beneath roads to maximize rainwater storage, while new junction structures will be built at points where sewer lines converge to ensure smooth water flow. The upgrades are expected to allow the district to handle heavier rainfall faster, preventing flood damage even during extreme downpours.

"We will stay one step ahead in maintaining drainage infrastructure so that residents' daily lives and property are not threatened even by sudden heavy rain," Yeongdeungpo-gu District Mayor Jo Yu-jin said. "By improving flood-prevention facilities including sewer lines and drainage pump stations, we will make Yeongdeungpo a district where no one has to worry no matter how severe the rain."