Rising reservoir levels bring comfort to Gangneung, as dam water is now flowing.
Gangneung's Water Supply Situation Improves, Emergency Measures Remain in Place
Gangneung, a city in South Korea's Gangwon Province, is gradually recovering from one of its worst dry spells in decades. The city has been facing water shortages since July, but recent developments have brought some relief.
The city government has announced that the water supply restrictions, introduced on Sept. 6, have been eased. The morning and evening water supply periods for 45,000 households in Gangneung have been increased from one hour to three hours each. This is a welcome change for the residents who have been experiencing water rationing for the past few weeks.
To ensure the safety of the water supply, the city government will continue to collect daily samples of the water at the release point from the Doam Dam. Around 10,000 tons of water per day will flow into the Namdae Stream from the Doam Dam before being delivered to the Hongje Water Purification Plant. The emergency discharge from Doam Dam will not compromise drinking water standards after being treated. All findings regarding the safety of the water from the Doam Dam will be disclosed to the public.
The city has also received aid from China to help alleviate the water shortages. This aid will complement the emergency water from Doam Dam, which is scheduled to start flowing into Gangneung from 1 p.m. Saturday.
Despite these positive developments, the drought in Gangneung is expected to persist into October and November. The rainfall in Gangneung is still expected to be below average. As of Friday morning, the water reserve rate at Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87% of Gangneung's tap and industrial water, is 28.1%. While this is an improvement from the 11.8% recorded on Sept. 11, it is still a cause for concern.
Gangneung is forecast to receive 10 to 40 millimeters of rain through Sunday morning. This rainfall may provide some additional relief, but the city government has urged residents to continue conserving water. The city government of Gangneung will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary measures to ensure a stable water supply for its residents.
In conclusion, while the situation in Gangneung has improved since it received its first heavy rain in months on Sept. 12, the city is still in a critical phase. The city government's efforts to ensure the safety of the water supply and the aid received from China are steps in the right direction. However, the drought is expected to persist, and the city government has urged residents to continue conserving water.
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