Government Strengthens Spring Drought Measures with 'All-Out Response'

Government Announces March Drought Forecast and Warning

The government announced drought forecasts and warnings nationwide from March to May on the 12th.

The accumulated nationwide precipitation over the past year (1188.0 mm) is 89.5% of the average, but the accumulated precipitation in the southern regions of Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces (973.0 mm) is 72.6% of the average, indicating that meteorological drought continues in some areas. Precipitation is expected to be generally similar to the average until May, so the meteorological drought in some southern areas is projected to gradually ease after April.

The nationwide average reservoir storage rate for agricultural use is 96% of the average, which is normal, but Jeonbuk and Jeonnam, where precipitation has been low for more than six months, have a low level of about 80%. If the drought continues after the rice planting season (May to June), water shortages for agricultural use may occur mainly in areas with low reservoir storage rates.

The nationwide average reservoir storage rates of multipurpose dams (20 sites) and water supply dams (14 sites), which are major sources of water for domestic and industrial use, are at 102% and 99% of the usual levels, respectively, but the Juam, Su-eo, Pyeongnim, and Seomjingang dams in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk are at the ‘severe’ stage, the Hapcheon, Andong, Imha, and Yeongcheon dams in Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk are at the ‘caution’ stage, and the Boryeong dam in Chungnam is at the ‘interest’ stage, with water supply from these dams being strictly managed.

With drought forecasts and warnings issued from March to May, the government announced that various measures by ministries will be implemented to overcome drought in the southern regions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will secure available water by filling reservoirs, retaining water in rivers and drainage channels, and reducing river maintenance water, focusing on Jeonbuk (Gimje, Jeongeup, Buan) and Jeonnam (Naju, Damyang, Jangseong) areas with low reservoir storage rates to ensure smooth water supply during the rice planting season (May to June).

On the 3rd, Minister Han Hwa-jin of the Ministry of Environment inspected the Yongyeon Water Purification Plant in Gwangju and carefully checked the emergency supply project of Yeongsan River water to overcome the drought.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is reducing industrial water use by consulting with companies in the Yeosu and Gwangyang industrial complexes to advance some factory maintenance originally planned for the second half of the year to the first half, so that the water-saving effect from reduced water use during the maintenance period appears in spring.

Kim Yong-gyun, Disaster Response Policy Officer at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, “We will thoroughly manage and swiftly implement local government drought countermeasures and related agencies’ water securing plans to ensure that citizens do not suffer from drought.” He added, “We also ask citizens to actively participate in water conservation in daily life to overcome the drought.”