Stable Water Supply Secured Through Proactive Measures
Including Temporary Pipelines and Water Retention Facilities
Taebaek City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Lee Sangho) announced on October 10 that the water storage rate at Gandong Dam, which had plummeted due to the ongoing drought this summer, has recently recovered to 74%, returning to a 'normal level'.
As of September 15, the water storage rate at Gandong Dam was only 36% (water level 666.8 meters, 4.8 million tons), which led to an upgrade to the 'caution stage'. However, as of October 10, the rate has surged to 74% (water level 672.6 meters, 9.67 million tons).
The city explained that the recent rainfall, combined with the phased drought response measures implemented over the past month, contributed to the rapid recovery.
From the early stages of the drought alert, the city thoroughly prepared by reinstalling a temporary vinyl pipeline between Guinaemi and Cheonpogyo, installing three water retention facilities (total capacity of 300 tons) between Cheonpogyo and Gandong Dam, and immediately deploying eight water pumps, three kilometers of fire hoses, and four waterproof tents to stabilize the water supply for household use.
In addition, to prepare for a prolonged drought, Taebaek City is working to revise the "Taebaek City Water Supply Ordinance" to provide a legal basis for reducing water bills for those who save water, and plans to improve the system to enable practical fee reductions.
On October 10, during his visit to Gandong Dam, Mayor Lee Sangho stated, "This recovery in the water storage rate is the result of both natural rainfall and the proactive measures taken in unison by citizens and institutions. We will continue to implement mid- and long-term measures to secure water sources and establish a stable water supply system."
Meanwhile, Taebaek City plans not only to maintain the current recovery in water storage but also to prepare for future droughts by launching a detailed design service for the installation of water retention facilities and a waterway (D600mm, 3 kilometers) between Cheonpogyo and Gandong Dam, with a budget of 3 billion won.
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