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Drought, Heat Take A Toll On Water Supply In Korea

June 24, 2017
By The Korea Times
As the serious drought and extreme heat continue, severe water restrictions have been introduced in Gangwon and southwestern Jeolla provinces.

Supply to households in 10 neighborhoods in four Gangwon cities has been limited since as early as late last month.

The supply to 34 households in Chuncheon has been restricted to four hours a day and 29 households in Goseong have been restricted to one hour a day since May 24.

Fifteen households in Yeongwol and 16 households in Inje have been limited to four hours since early this month.

Supply to two military divisions in Hwacheon has also been restricted.

"There is no water to drink," said a village leader from Dangrim-ri in Chuncheon. "Valleys have all run out of water. Despite the water supply truck's help, our dilapidated water pipe leaks and runs dry in two hours.

"Taking a shower or doing laundry is impossible right now. We hope the drinking water problem gets resolved soon."

On July 1, the province is suffering its worst water shortage since 2015, when the eastern region had just 141 millimeters of rain and the western region 201 millimeters.

The water supply to almost 1,600 people from 726 households in 19 villages was limited in what some recall as a "nightmare"situation.

Precipitation so far this year is just 177 millimeters, and the province will raise the drought alert level from "warning" to "serious" unless rain falls this week.

The villages with limited water supply draw water from small-scale facilities based on ravines and underground streams.

The province will also limit water supply to Gangneung on July 1, which receives water from a local water supply system.

People in South Jeolla Province expect the same restrictions starting next month. Almost 5,000 households in Yeonggwang will have a limited water supply starting July 1, according to province officials on Wednesday. The households will be limited to receiving water every two days.

Average water storage in the province's reservoirs is below 50 percent capacity, while some in six cities are below 30 percent.

About 1,700 households on Imja Island in Sinan have been restricted to receiving water once every two days since last month.

Sixty-five households on Daema Island in Jindo have been restricted to two hours in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.
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(c) 2017 Korea Times Co. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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Story Image: A map showing both North Korea and South Korea (courtesy Googlemaps)