Korea gets an average of about 1,283mm annually, which is 30 percent more than the world average, 973mm. It seems to be abundant, however, due to the high population density, the average annual precipitation per capita is 2,705m3 which is only for only 10% of the world average, 26,800m3.
Increasing competition for water and conflicting water use between the conflicts over water usage and regional demands
Growing water demands and a lack of suitable sites for new water resources development Deterioration of water quality due to rapid urbanization and industrialization Increasing of wastewater beyond the capacity of wastewater treatment facilities Change of water ecosystems
Water Shortage
Although there has been numerous construction of multipurpose reservoirs and estuaries, water shortage still remains as the main obstacles to better life and economic growth.
Studies show that there will be a great increase water demand beginning in the year 2000. Predictis of serious shortages from droughts cause by climatic changes. A government report says that expected surplus water in the year 2001 will be 7.7% and by the year 2011 it will be -5.5% even with the completion of the Namgang Dam, Yongdam
Dam and four other Dams.
Complications causecl by local citizens exists in dam construction. Although they recognize the importance of the dam, the locals protest against it because of the potential environmental impact and the damages caused by construction and operation of
the dam.
An wasteful lack of conservation of water resources and a low water price are the main causes of water waste. The water cost to households is only 0.46% out of the entire
cost. Consequently, this causes a limitation to financing new water resources projects.
Major Droughts Damage in Korea
Year
Rainfall (May¡July) (mm)
Drought days
Reservoir Storage rate (%)
Number of dried up reservoirs (locations)
Damaged area (§µ)
Amount of drought damage (million US$)
1967
307.4
56
5
-
420,547
522.2
1968
122.2
72
4
-
470,422
584.1
1981
668.2
50
46
5,306
145,547
216.7
1982
300.8
54
27
13,593
231,244
287.1
1991
231.3
68
15
5,728
133,300
-
Flood Damage
Increasing of flood damage due to the increase in land utilization near the river bank.
There has been an increasing amount of flood damage in medium and small scale river basins due to the lack of flood control dams and reservoirs.
Owing to the increase of paved roads and urbanization, severe flooding may occur. Also, land reclamation in the catchment area causes the reduction of catchment detention capacity.
Due to climate changes such as greenhouse effects and the El Nino phenomenon the
number of severe droughts and floods have increased in number and frequency.
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Water Shortage