A Week of Rising Water Levels Thanks to Recent Rainfall
Recent rainfall has led to a steady increase in the water storage rate at Obong Reservoir, which serves as a water source for Gangneung in Gangwon Province.
According to the Rural Water Comprehensive Information System on September 21, as of 11 a.m. that day, the storage rate at Obong Reservoir stood at 52.6% (the average for this time of year is 72.7%), up 13.9 percentage points from 38.7% the previous day. The rainfall over the past two days in the Gangneung area had a significant impact. Amid severe drought, the storage rate at Obong Reservoir had dropped to an all-time low of 11.5% on September 12, but as rain fell in the Gangneung area and runoff continued to flow into the dam even after the rain stopped, the storage rate has been rising for a week since September 13.
According to the Gangwon Regional Meteorological Administration, rainfall at key points near Obong Reservoir from September 12 to 11 a.m. on September 21 measured 285 mm at Gangneung Dakmokjae, 266.5 mm at Doma, 243.5 mm at Sapdangnyeong, and 238.5 mm at Wangsang. In particular, nearly 100 mm of rain fell in these areas from September 19 to September 21, greatly contributing to the rise in the reservoir's storage rate. These areas are upstream from Obong Reservoir and can have a direct impact on its storage levels. Less than 5 mm of additional rain is expected in the Gangneung area through the afternoon of September 21, so the upward trend in the storage rate is likely to continue for some time.
As a result, the time-based water supply restrictions that had been imposed on 113 apartment complexes in Gangneung, each with water tanks of at least 100 tons, have been fully lifted. In addition, since September 20, the Pyeongchang Doam Dam, which can supply about 10,000 tons of water per day to the Gangneung area, has resumed emergency water releases. The release from Doam Dam had been suspended for 24 years since 2001 due to water quality concerns, but a temporary decision was made to resume it due to the severe drought.
Gangneung City conducted water quality tests, including on-site measurements of dissolved oxygen and other indicators that can be checked on the day, in cooperation with the Water Quality Verification Committee and at the emergency release outlet. The results found no major issues for water treatment. A Gangneung City official stated, "We will release the results of the emergency release water quality tests and conduct strict daily monitoring to alleviate citizens' concerns about the water quality from Doam Dam."
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