Sinan-gun launches emergency drought response as reservoir levels plunge

Sinan-gun Mayor Kim Tae-sung visits Taecheon and Yeonhwa reservoirs in Jido-eup to push emergency measures securing agricultural water supply

Sinan-gun has activated an emergency response system to minimize damage to local farms from a prolonged drought, launching a long-term drought countermeasures project.

Mayor Kim Tae-sung visited Jido-eup and other severely affected areas on Saturday to assess agricultural water supply conditions and explore response measures.

Rainfall across Sinan-gun has fallen far short of historical averages in recent months, triggering an emergency over securing agricultural water. The average reservoir storage rate in the county plunged to around 55 percent this year from roughly 88 percent during the same period last year.

The situation is particularly acute at the Taecheon and Yeonhwa reservoirs in Jido-eup, where water levels have dropped so low that the reservoir beds are exposed.

In response, Sinan-gun is moving forward with its long-term drought countermeasures project to stabilize agricultural water supply. Key measures include dredging reservoirs to increase storage capacity and prioritizing repairs to agricultural water supply facilities such as portable pumping stations and groundwater wells.

"As the prolonged drought deepens the hardship of farmers, securing agricultural water will be our top priority," Mayor Kim said. "We will concentrate all administrative resources and swiftly advance the long-term drought countermeasures project to minimize damage to farming operations."