Building on the WINS framework, Korea has recently developed an Integrated National Water Management Information Platform, designed to provide nationwide data services and policy support through the integration of dispersed water information systems. The platform integrates data related to quantity (rainfall, runoff, groundwater), quality, aquatic ecosystems and disasters (floods and droughts), thereby serving as a centralised platform for the management of both water quantity and quality. The Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment of Korea established an informatisation strategic plan from November 2021 to October 2022 to integrate water information that was provided fragmentarily by each agency. Figure A E.1 illustrates the connection and integration of dispersed water information systems.
Strengthening Economic Regulation of Water and Sanitation Services in the Philippines
Source: (MoE, 2023[1])
Priority is given to providing 36 types of basic information (e.g., river water level and flowrate, water Q’ly, ground water, water supply and sewage systems etc.). Based on GIS maps, users can check real-time or recent observational data on local water quality, water level, flowrate, groundwater and groundwater by location. Water level and flowrate are updated in real time at one-hour intervals, while water quality and other data are updated weekly or monthly. Elements of the information system are outlined in Table A E.1.
The system is being implemented in three phases: Phase 1 (2024), establishment of data integration and standardisation frameworks, Phase 2 (2026), development of the integrated platform infrastructure and Phase 3 (2028), integration of nine existing water information systems and unification of external portal domains.
In 2024, standardisation was carried out to unify measurement units (using meters) and a system as built based on Geographic Information System (GIS) to allow users to view various water information at a glance.
This integrated platform enables users to search and access information from all nine water management systems in one place (as shown in Table A E.2). Since April 2025, the platform has been publicly available through the “MulMoa” portal, allowing users to retrieve information by region, such as hydrological data, water quality and groundwater measurements, river facility lists and more, presented through interactive maps and lists.
Note: NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research), FCO (Flood Control Office), Kwater (Korea Water Resources Corporation, MCEE (Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment), K-eco (Korea Environment Corporation)
Given that this system provides a unified framework for the management of national water quantity and quality, it could serve as a useful reference for DENR–WRMO in the Philippines when formulating plans for inter-agency integration and data-sharing mechanisms to strengthen national water governance.
This platform integrates nine water information systems operated separately under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, covering sectors such as water resources, water quality, rivers, water supply and drainage, groundwater and drought. It provides comprehensive services to the public.
Through Geographic Information System (GIS) services, it offers integrated search functions, enabling users to easily and quickly find the water-related information they need.
The integration process will be carried out gradually in three phases (Figure A E.2).
(2024) Establishment of data integration and standardisation system,
(~2026) Development of the integrated platform,
(2027–2028) Integration of seven external portal domain systems.
The National Waterworks Information System (NWIS) was developed progressively since the early 2000s to enable the integrated management of water supply facilities and operational data nationwide (Box A E.1). As in the Philippines, water utility data such as served population, pipeline network status, water quality and leakage rates had previously been managed independently by local governments, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies. The system was therefore established to standardise and consolidate these datasets at the national level for unified analysis and policy decision-making.
Under the mandate of the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy (MCEE), K-water was commissioned to develop, operate and manage the system. K-water collects and manages information on water supply facilities and water quality from local governments, provides an integrated work management platform for municipal officials and offers public-facing services through a web portal and mobile application that deliver real-time information on local water quality and related updates.
Each local government inputs or automatically transmits data into the system. For instance, water quality data, facility inventories and master plans are manually entered, while real-time operational data – such as raw water inflow and treated water production from purification plants processing over 30,000 tons per day – are automatically transmitted.
The National Water Supply Statistics are generated based on NWIS data. These statistics encompass 888 indicators across three main domains: (1) general status of 160 water utilities (including service coverage, contracts and industrial water supply), (2) facility management (intake, treatment, small-scale systems and reservoirs) and (3) operation and performance (cost recovery, non-revenue water management and pipeline replacement and expansion). Data are officially published annually.
This case provides a useful reference for institutions such as the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) or those currently managing the Listahang Tubig system in the Philippines, offering a model for stepwise development towards an integrated national water utility information platform.
The National Water Supply Information Center, operated under the entrusted management of K-water from the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, collects water supply information (facility data, water quality management) from local governments across South Korea in accordance with the Waterworks Act (Figure A E.3).
Based on this data, the center provides operational systems to support local government officials in efficiently managing water supply tasks. It also offers public services such as local water quality information and issue updates through web pages and mobile apps, facilitating community access to relevant water quality data and information.
References
[2] MCEE (2026), National integrated informational platform for water management, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE), http://www.mulmoa.go.kr/web.
[1] MoE (2023), National Integrated Water Mangement Information Platform, Ministry of Environment (MoE).