The government is taking steps to address the worsening drought as water levels in major dams in the southern regions decline. Recent rainfall in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas has reached only 70% of the average for the past month, prompting the Wunmun Dam to enter a 'serious' drought stage. As a result, relevant agencies and local governments are activating a joint response system.
On July 31, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment will hold an emergency meeting via video conference at the Han River Flood Control Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to discuss drought response measures in the southern regions. The meeting, chaired by Minister Kim Seong-hwan, will include participation from the Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Water Resources Corporation, Daegu Metropolitan City, and Gyeongsangbuk-do, among other local governments affected by the drought.
This meeting comes amid growing concerns about the prolonged drought in the southern regions. As of July 27, the rainfall in Daegu and Gyeongbuk was only 70.8% of the normal level for the past month. Consequently, the Wunmun Dam has entered a serious drought stage, while the water levels at the Miryang Dam and Seomjin River Dam have dropped to 34.4% and 26.6%, respectively.
During the meeting, the ministry will review recent rainfall conditions and forecasts, the current status of water supply from major dams, and collaboration strategies among agencies. Notably, it has been confirmed that the Wunmun Dam is currently able to supply water for domestic and industrial use without issues, thanks to reductions in river maintenance water and alternative water sourcing from the Nakdong and Geumho Rivers. If the drought persists, discussions will also include measures to ensure stable water supply through the operation of the Geumho River diversion.
Proactive measures will also be implemented for the Miryang and Seomjin River Dams. The ministry anticipates that the drought management stage for these dams will be raised to 'alert' by early August. Plans will be discussed to replace domestic and industrial water supplies with river water and to reduce agricultural water use within limits that do not disrupt farming.
Minister Kim Seong-hwan stated, "Through this meeting, we will strengthen the cooperation system among relevant agencies and ensure thorough preparedness for the drought in the southern regions through proactive measures. We will continuously monitor the status of major dams until the drought situation improves to prevent any disruptions in water supply."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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