Drought-hit Gangneung launches full-scale water conservation

A green onion field is seen dried up in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, after the supply of agricultural water was cut off due to a prolonged drought, Monday. Yonhap

The east coast city of Gangneung, stricken by the worst drought on record, has begun to implement desperate water conservation measures, as water storage at its main water supply reservoir has fallen to a dangerous level, the interior ministry said Tuesday.

The water storage level at the Obong Reservoir, the main water source for Gangneung, Gangwon Province, stood at 14.4 percent as of 6 p.m. Monday, down 0.3 percentage point from the previous day, the ministry said.

In response, the government shut off 75 percent of household water meters and closed 47 public bathrooms and three swimming pools, as part of the efforts to reduce water consumption.

It has also begun operating a governmentwide drought response team comprising the interior ministry, the Gangwon provincial government and the Gangneung city government, after President Lee Jae Myung declared a state of national disaster to cope with the drought last week.

A total of 112 vehicles and equipment, including 71 fire trucks and four military water tanks, have been mobilized to transport and supply 5,071 tons of water for the Obong Reservoir, while an additional 20,000 tons of alternative water has been provided to the city, the ministry said.

About 1.41 million bottles of water have been stockpiled to support vulnerable people and other residents. Some 283,000 bottles were distributed to senior welfare facilities and schools earlier this week and all residents will be provided with the remaining bottled water soon.