Gyeongnam Province is launching a comprehensive response to combat record low rainfall and prolonged drought by mobilizing all available resources and equipment.
The province aims to quickly address immediate shortages of drinking and agricultural water while also preparing additional measures in case the drought persists.
According to Gyeongnam Province, the cumulative rainfall over the past six months has reached only 586.7 mm, which is just 60.3% of the average. Notably, rainfall in June and July plummeted to 50% and 23% of the average, respectively, causing agricultural reservoir levels to drop to 47.8% of normal, with current levels at 34.1%.
This has resulted in damage to crops across 1,955.6 hectares, including fruits like persimmons, apples, and pears, as well as rice and soybeans. While water supply for domestic and industrial use remains stable, residents in 26 areas without access to public water supply are experiencing increased inconvenience due to time-restricted water supply measures.
Governor Park Wan-soo secured a special grant of 4.894 billion won during a drought and heatwave response meeting chaired by the President on August 6, and plans to swiftly utilize this funding along with disaster management funds and reserves.
The province will maintain the daily supply of 117,000 tons from the Miryang Dam for domestic use, activate emergency connections for regional and local water supply, and allocate 300 million won from disaster relief funds to expand bottled water and transport water supplies in restricted areas. Additionally, all available equipment, including military water trucks from the 39th Infantry Division, fire trucks, and forestry firefighting vehicles, will be mobilized for emergency water supply and the development of additional wells.
Concerns Over Temporary Solutions for Restricted Water Supply Areas
Despite the briefing, some have raised concerns that the transport and bottled water supplies for restricted areas may only serve as temporary solutions.
In response, a Gyeongnam water quality management official explained, "The current time-restricted water supply is a result of a temporary surge in demand due to increased tourism and heat, along with some areas using domestic water for agricultural purposes, leading to insufficient tank filling times."
He added, "The resources currently secured are sufficient for a month, and if the drought extends or if emergency situations arise, such as groundwater wells becoming blocked, we plan to fully support the development of additional groundwater wells and implement permanent measures without delay." Continuous monitoring will focus on small water supply facilities and villages reliant on valley water, particularly in Tongyeong, Miryang, and Hadong.
Deputy Governor Park Il-woong emphasized, "We will do our utmost to minimize damage by mobilizing all available means, rather than just waiting for rain to fall."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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