More Thorough Drought Preparedness... '6-Month Outlook' Added

Ministry of the Interior and Safety Establishes '2024 Comprehensive Drought Measures'
Water Supply to Reservoirs at Risk of Shortage
6-Month Forecast and Regional Distribution Added for Additional Supply

The government will thoroughly prepare for drought this year by additionally providing a 6-month drought forecast.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 21st that it has established the '2024 Comprehensive Drought Countermeasure' in cooperation with related ministries to proactively prepare for drought.

As a short-term drought measure, 9.12 million cubic meters of water will be supplied to 51 reservoirs where water shortages for rice planting are expected during the farming season. In case of drought warning signs such as drying of rice paddies or wilting of field crops, emergency support measures such as securing water sources and purchasing pumps will also be implemented. Local governments will stockpile materials and supplies to prepare for drought, and the government plans to support the establishment of countermeasures tailored to local conditions through on-site consulting.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

New tasks will also be promoted to strengthen drought preparedness capabilities. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety decided to provide the 6-month meteorological drought forecast information four times a year. Previously, only 1- and 3-month forecasts were provided. In addition, drought distribution maps for 10 regions nationwide will be additionally produced, and agricultural drought vulnerability assessments and vulnerability maps at the eup, myeon, and dong levels will be created.

Mid- to long-term drought measures include building infrastructure for water supply. The government plans to complete 85 rural water development projects, including reservoirs and pumping stations, by 2027. This year, 123 local water supply modernization projects, such as upgrading aging water pipes and water treatment plants, will be promoted.

The connectivity of existing water resources will also be strengthened. Through the rural water use system reorganization project, water systems such as transmission pipelines will be connected, and small-scale pumping stations will be consolidated or abolished. Furthermore, by 2026, through three water supply system adjustment projects, the government will prioritize supplying surplus capacity of existing facilities to water-scarce areas before developing new water sources.

Institutional improvements for future drought preparedness will also be pursued. The government plans to amend the 'Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act' to make it mandatory for local governments to establish drought countermeasures. Until now, drought countermeasures were requested through administrative guidelines, but this amendment aims to legally mandate them to strengthen on-site preparedness. Drought observation technology on-site will be enhanced. Multipurpose measurement facilities will be installed in reservoirs that need improvement due to aging, and advanced equipment such as unmanned drones will be used to support surveying, water volume analysis, and dredging volume estimation of reservoirs managed by local governments.

As of this month, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that rainfall and water storage levels are being managed normally. The nationwide cumulative rainfall over the past six months was 504.7 mm, which is 150.6% of the average (1991?2020). Agricultural, domestic, and industrial water are also being managed normally. The average storage rate of agricultural reservoirs nationwide is 90.8%, which is 121.1% compared to the average (75.0%). The storage rates of 20 multipurpose dams and 14 water supply dams nationwide are 168.3% and 162.9%, respectively, compared to the average since dam completion until last year.

Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, stated, "As regional disparities in rainfall have increased due to recent climate change, leading to more localized drought occurrences, it is more important than ever to prepare thoroughly in advance. The government will continuously manage drought situations and respond proactively when there is a risk of drought to ensure that the public can live safely and without inconvenience."

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