Ⅰ. Background and Research Objectives
1. Background
o The era of new normal, marked by climate change, aged infrastructures, and pandemics, poses a substantial threat to the conventional linear urban water management system in the near future.
ㅇ Urban water management must undergo a transformative shift toward a more sustainable and resilient system.

2. Research objectives
o This study aims to introduce the concept of a ‘Water Circulation City’, and put forward policy measures for its implementation.
ㅇ In the second year (2023), the authors explore strategies to enhance the city’s water self-sufficiency by reusing urban water resources, while research focus in the previous year (2022) was restoring urban water circulation and harnessing sewage energy.

Ⅱ. Urban Water Issues
o In both developed and developing countries, urban growth and redevelopment lead to an overall increase in water demand.

o Over the past decade, Korean cities have increasingly relied on external water sources.
ㅇ While the water supply increased by 12.2% from 2012 to 2021, the import of raw and treated water from outside the municipality surged by 18.6%.

o Various research initiatives such as automated rainwater harvesting systems, membrane-based and low-energy reuse processes are actively underway.

o Public policy has broadened the legal mandates for water reuse and heightened support for voluntary installation of water reuse facilities.
ㅇIncentives for voluntary installation encompass green building ...