20 Multipurpose Dams Nationwide at 127% of Average Level... "No Water Supply Issues"

The Ministry of Environment announced on the 14th that the water storage levels of 20 multipurpose dams nationwide have increased by 27% compared to the average year, securing sufficient water reserves.

The total water storage of the 20 multipurpose dams was 8.359 billion tons as of the 13th. These dams are about 65% full, with a total capacity of 12.923 billion tons. Compared to January last year, when the storage was 9.57 billion tons, the current level is lower, but it is higher compared to the average year.

The Ministry of Environment expects that, with water storage above average, there will be no problems supplying water to most regions nationwide until the flood season this year.

By region, the Soyanggang Dam, responsible for supplying water to the Seoul metropolitan area, has a storage of 2.14 billion tons, 39% more than usual, and Chungju Dam recorded 1.772 billion tons, an increase of 26%. Andong Dam and Hapcheon Dam, major water sources in the Nakdonggang region, are at 134% and 125% of the average year, respectively.

In the Seomjingang region, which experienced severe drought from 2022 to 2023, Juam Dam secured 148% and Seomjingang Dam 112% of the average water storage.

However, Boryeong Dam in the Geumgang region, responsible for water supply in the western part of Chungnam, has only 44 million tons of water storage. This is 83% of the average year, barely filling 37% of its total capacity. The watershed rainfall in the area has been about 67% of the average for five months since August last year.

The Ministry of Environment entered the drought interest stage in the area on the 2nd and is managing the situation with the Korea Water Resources Corporation. Since the 3rd, 115,000 tons of water per day have been supplied to Boryeong Dam from the Geumgang River through a waterway.

Last year’s rainfall was 1,342 mm, 106% more than usual. Sufficient dam water storage was secured due to rainfall in October and November, after the flood season (June 21 to September 20) ended.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this winter’s rainfall is expected to be generally similar to or less than the average year.

Kim Gu-beom, Director of Water Resources Policy at the Ministry of Environment, explained, “Currently, the water storage rates of multipurpose dams are generally at a good level, but due to recent climate change, rainfall patterns are changing from before, so we are operating the dams in preparation for this.”

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