ID :
45622
Sat, 02/14/2009 - 13:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/45622
The shortlink copeid
(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Feb. 14) - Water shortage
With the country suffering from the worst drought in 12 years, the government is scurrying to find ways to handle water scarcity, which could develop into a crisis if substantial rainfall does not arrive soon.
At a vice ministerial level meeting Thursday, the government said that it would
provide 407.5 billion won ($291 million) toward developing agricultural and
drinking water sources and the building of additional wells to tap into
underground water. Last month, the government had allotted 127 billion won to
deal with the winter draught. The increased spending indicates the growing
seriousness of the problem.
The eight-month-long drought, started last July, has caused major water shortages
in some regions in southern Gangwon Province as the dam serving the area dries
up. The shortage of drinking water is posing great difficulties for the residents
in the mostly mountainous region who now get their water twice daily from trucks.
Sanitation will also soon become a problem, which could potentially lead to
public health risks.
The current drought is a lot more serious than initially thought, according to
the government, which conducted field inspections earlier in the week. The
continued dry spell has drastically lowered the amount of water held in reserve,
so that even if the country were to get the annual average rainfall for the
spring season, the drought conditions will continue through May.
Weather authorities attributed the low precipitation level in the past eight
months to the high atmospheric pressure over the Korean peninsula as well as the
fewer than normal number of typhoons that hit the country. Typically, 30 percent
of the precipitation in the summer comes from typhoons. Last year, only one
typhoon affected the country, compared to an average of three typhoons in the
past years.
About two-thirds of the country's annual precipitation occurs in the summer,
making water-holding capacity an important part of handling water scarcity.
Taking into consideration such a precipitation pattern, building of more dams for
drinking water should be reviewed.
As part of a multi-pronged measure to handle water scarcity, the project to clean
up the four major rivers should be used as an opportunity to improve the quality
of water. Replacement of old, worn out water pipes should also receive attention.
Technology to trap and use rainwater must be made more widely available.
The global climate change will bring about changes in the weather pattern over
the Korean peninsula. While we need to take fundamental measures to handle
droughts that may be part of the climate change, an important step which everyone
can take is to be mindful against wasting water. More public campaigns are needed
to raise awareness of water scarcity and get people to conserve water.
(END)
At a vice ministerial level meeting Thursday, the government said that it would
provide 407.5 billion won ($291 million) toward developing agricultural and
drinking water sources and the building of additional wells to tap into
underground water. Last month, the government had allotted 127 billion won to
deal with the winter draught. The increased spending indicates the growing
seriousness of the problem.
The eight-month-long drought, started last July, has caused major water shortages
in some regions in southern Gangwon Province as the dam serving the area dries
up. The shortage of drinking water is posing great difficulties for the residents
in the mostly mountainous region who now get their water twice daily from trucks.
Sanitation will also soon become a problem, which could potentially lead to
public health risks.
The current drought is a lot more serious than initially thought, according to
the government, which conducted field inspections earlier in the week. The
continued dry spell has drastically lowered the amount of water held in reserve,
so that even if the country were to get the annual average rainfall for the
spring season, the drought conditions will continue through May.
Weather authorities attributed the low precipitation level in the past eight
months to the high atmospheric pressure over the Korean peninsula as well as the
fewer than normal number of typhoons that hit the country. Typically, 30 percent
of the precipitation in the summer comes from typhoons. Last year, only one
typhoon affected the country, compared to an average of three typhoons in the
past years.
About two-thirds of the country's annual precipitation occurs in the summer,
making water-holding capacity an important part of handling water scarcity.
Taking into consideration such a precipitation pattern, building of more dams for
drinking water should be reviewed.
As part of a multi-pronged measure to handle water scarcity, the project to clean
up the four major rivers should be used as an opportunity to improve the quality
of water. Replacement of old, worn out water pipes should also receive attention.
Technology to trap and use rainwater must be made more widely available.
The global climate change will bring about changes in the weather pattern over
the Korean peninsula. While we need to take fundamental measures to handle
droughts that may be part of the climate change, an important step which everyone
can take is to be mindful against wasting water. More public campaigns are needed
to raise awareness of water scarcity and get people to conserve water.
(END)
