Gyeongnam Province has announced a groundbreaking initiative to enhance water quality in the Nakdong River by constructing two water intake towers that can adjust their intake height. This plan, a first among South Korea's four major rivers, comes in response to the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment's recently announced water quality improvement measures for the Nakdong River. Gyeongnam aims to significantly reduce pollution levels, particularly targeting biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total phosphorus (TP) by 2030 to achieve 'good' ratings under the pollution total quantity control system.

As part of its detailed strategy titled 'Gyeongnam-type Nakdong River Water Quality Improvement Comprehensive Plan (2026-2030)', the province will invest 290 billion KRW in the Busan-Yangsan Water Intake Facility by 2028 and 490 billion KRW in the Chilsong Water Intake Facility by 2030. These investments will establish selective intake towers capable of adjusting intake height based on the water level in the river, allowing for more effective management of pollutants, especially harmful algal blooms that typically saturate the upper layers of the river during summer months.

Furthermore, Gyeongnam Province intends to improve all agricultural pump facilities in the Nakdong River's mid-lower reaches by 2028 to prepare for the continuous opening of the Changnyeong-Haman dam gates by 2030. The province is also pursuing pollution reduction measures upstream at locations like Sukgok-myeon, known for its vast liquid fertilizer cultivation. This comprehensive approach underscores Gyeongnam's commitment to tackling water quality issues and preserving environmental integrity in key river areas.