Despite Water-Saving Measures,
Water Usage Remains Higher Than Expected
Due to the severe water shortage caused by the worst drought, residents of Gangneung are employing every possible method to conserve water on a large scale. To save water, citizens are making it a daily habit to use wet wipes for cleaning, including in restrooms, and are doing laundry only when they have accumulated enough clothes. They are even using water from washing their hair to flush toilets. Despite these efforts, the supply of domestic water has not decreased as much as expected. As a result, some are questioning whether the current water restriction method, which involves locking water meters, should be changed.
Amid the worst drought, a disaster declaration has been issued for Gangneung, Gangwon Province. On the afternoon of the 1st, the water storage rate of Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87% of the living water in the Gangneung area, dropped to 14.4%, showing an overgrown grass appearance. Photo by Yonhap News
On September 2, Yonhap News Agency reported that, despite intensified water-saving measures in Gangneung, where the severe drought continues, the damage from water shortages persists. In particular, although citizens have voluntarily conserved tap water, implemented a strong water restriction by locking 75% of water meters, and large-scale accommodation facilities have reduced operations, the amount of domestic water supplied to the city’s 180,000 residents has not significantly decreased. On August 31, when the water storage rate of Obong Reservoir-which supplies 87% of Gangneung’s domestic water-fell below 15% and the 75% meter lock was implemented, the amount of domestic water supplied to citizens was 85,750 cubic meters.
This is only about 10,000 cubic meters less than the 95,417 cubic meters supplied on August 18, before water restrictions were enforced at the end of the summer vacation season. On September 1, the supply was still 85,497 cubic meters, with daily supply hovering around 85,000 cubic meters since late August. Previously, when the storage rate dropped below 20% and the 50% meter lock was implemented on August 20, the domestic water supply was 94,118 cubic meters.
Despite Water-Saving Campaigns, Water Usage Has Not Decreased as Expected
Previously, during a drought emergency response press conference held on August 19, Gangneung City estimated that, with a storage rate below 20% and a 50% water meter restriction, daily domestic water supply would decrease to about 57,000 cubic meters. If the strong restriction of below 15% was implemented, the supply was expected to drop to about 38,000 cubic meters. The city anticipated a 40% reduction in water usage with the 50% meter lock and a 60% reduction with the stronger 75% lock.
On the 2nd, indoor and outdoor public sports facilities in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, which continue to suffer from severe drought damage, are being officially closed. Yonhap News
However, despite the closure of beaches reducing the number of vacationers and tourists, the scaled-down operations of large accommodation facilities, the closure of sports and public restrooms, and the widespread water-saving campaigns among citizens, water usage has not decreased as much as expected. In reality, the city had expected a 40% reduction with the 50% water meter restriction, but the actual decrease was only 15%. President Lee Jaemyung, who visited Obong Reservoir on August 30, also commented on Gangneung’s water meter lock restriction, stating, "It will not dramatically reduce water usage," and suggested that timed water supply restrictions should be considered.
As of September 2, the reservoir’s storage rate had dropped further to 14.2%. At a press conference on September 1, Gangneung Mayor Kim Hongkyu announced, "If the storage rate falls below 10%, we will consider implementing timed or alternate-day water supply." As the storage rate continues to hit record lows, citizens have expressed their anxiety, saying, "We keep refreshing the weather all day, desperately waiting for news of rain," "I’ve installed several world-famous weather apps and check them habitually," and "Watching the weather and the news all day only makes me sigh," as they anxiously await rainfall.
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