[Report] 'Like a Vast Plain' The Dried-up Dongbok Lake with Its Bottom Fully Exposed

60% of All Households in Gwangju Face Drinking Water Supply Crisis as Major Water Sources Deplete

Average Reservoir Levels at This Time Usually 70-80%... Currently Down to 29.21% and Falling

Winter Rainfall Expected Below Average... Rising C

Hwasun Dongbok Lake, which provides drinking water to 60% of all households in Gwangju Metropolitan City, has completely exposed its bottom upstream, as if it were originally a wide plain.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] At first glance, it looked like a peaceful plain with a small stream flowing through the middle. But when you learn the details, it’s a place that leaves you speechless, thinking "How can this be?" This is Dongbokho, which supplies drinking water to 60% of all households in Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Dongbokho was revealing its white inner surface amid the worst drought.

On the afternoon of the 7th, the upper reaches of Dongbokho, a major water source for the Gwangju area, seen from the 2nd Manghyangjeong in Wacheon-ri, Baek-a-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do, looked like a vast plain.

It was hard to believe that just a year ago, this place was so full of water that boats used for lake management, including water quality control, could navigate it.

But now, only dried aquatic plants and soil fill the lake bottom, which has been exposed. The bridge and cement road used by the village submerged when Dongbokho was created in 1985 have been revealed as the lake dried up. Even officials from the Waterworks Headquarters said they were unaware of the bridge’s existence until now.

The place that was used as a dock when the water was abundant was so unrecognizable that it was not even known as a dock until an explanation was given that day.

The situation is the same downstream of Dongbok Dam in Dongbokho. Around the 168m mark of the intake tower, where the water level is easily visible through engraved scales, yellowed traces suggest "this is about how much water there usually was."

The current water surface is located far below that. The lake water available for intake is said to start 8 meters above the bottom. Up to 8 meters is called "Sasu," which generally has water quality unsuitable for intake.

The water level of Dongbok Dam downstream, which supplies drinking water to 60% of all households in Gwangju Metropolitan City, has dropped significantly compared to the average year.

There are only about 40 meters left until this Sasu level. Normally, the water storage rate of Dongbokho around this time of year is 70-80%, but currently, Dongbokho’s storage rate is 29.21%. The dreaded 30% threshold has been broken.

With predictions that this winter’s rainfall will fall short of the average, concerns are rising that Dongbokho could be depleted by March next year.

In response, Gwangju City is providing guidance on practical measures to overcome the drought through safety alert messages. They are encouraging water-saving practices in daily life such as placing water bottles in toilet tanks, reducing bath time, using a cup for brushing teeth, washing laundry all at once, and using a dishpan for washing dishes.

Officials explain that the most efficient method among various ways is to adjust the water valve for each household to lower the water pressure.

Gwangju City is informing each apartment about the water pressure reduction campaign and is conducting visits to adjust the valves.

An official from the Waterworks Headquarters said, "In preparation for the extreme situation of Dongbokho depletion, we are also considering methods to introduce water from wells and the Yeongsan River, and in severe cases, additional purification of the Sasu water may be necessary."

He added, "Thanks to the voluntary participation of citizens, the average daily water usage has decreased by about 8% compared to this time last year," and emphasized, "It is time for everyone to join forces to prevent Dongbokho from being depleted before the rainy season next summer."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.