Water shortages cause water storage rate to drop to 14.4%, one-quarter of normal levels in Gangneung, South Korea

Due to a severe water shortage, a "state of disaster" has been declared in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea, and the city government is working hard to overcome the water shortage.
On the 1st, Gangneung Mayor Kim Hong-ki held the second press conference on emergency measures to deal with the water shortage at the City Hall Disaster Situation Room and discussed short-term and medium- to long-term measures.
Currently, the city is restricting water supply by shutting off 75% of the water meters for each household. In this case, water pressure drops and water supply is slow, but each household can still use water.
However, the city plans to consider a time-based or alternate-day water supply system if the water level of the Obong Reservoir, which is the source of drinking water, falls below 10%. As of this afternoon, the water level of the Obong Reservoir was 14.4%.
If the water supply rate reaches 0%, supplementary water sources will be utilized to support water supply in the shortest possible time.
However, sprinkler trucks will be deployed to supply water for daily use to essential facilities, including medical facilities and social welfare facilities, without exception.
To date, the company has stockpiled 1.35 million bottles of 2-liter mineral water, and on the 28th and 29th of last month, when the water reserve rate fell below 15%, it completed distribution to social welfare facilities and schools on a priority basis.
Since the drought, agricultural water supply has been completely cut off throughout the city, but the city plans to supply water to farmland from alternative water sources such as the Dongmaek, Chilsung, and Changhyeon reservoirs.
Restrictions will also be imposed on the tourism industry. Large-scale accommodation facilities in the area with more than 150 rooms have been asked to limit the operation of non-essential water-using facilities such as swimming pools and saunas.
If the water storage rate falls below 10%, the facility will cease operations altogether. Mayor Kim said that mid- to long-term measures include modernizing the aging water supply pipe network, improving water purification plants, and installing groundwater storage dams.
In addition, the government will also proceed with the construction of small river flood control weirs, securing water supply through erosion control dams in the area, and multipurpose rural agricultural and water development projects.
Furthermore, the plan is to secure 60,000 to 65,000 tons of water per day for domestic and agricultural use through the reuse of public treated sewage water and the construction of the Namdaechon underground dam.
Once these projects are completed, the city expects to be able to provide a stable supply of 90,000 tons of water per day.
Prior to the press conference, Mayor Kim said, "I deeply regret that we were unable to adequately alleviate the inconvenience and worries that our citizens are experiencing due to the worst water shortage in history.
"We offer our apologies," he said, emphasizing that "Gangneung city will do its utmost together with its citizens to overcome the water shortage." Meanwhile, the government declared a state of disaster in Gangneung on the 30th of last month.
This is the first time that a state of emergency has been declared.