Storm’s rain not enough for Okinawa

Storm’s rain not enough for Okinawa
By Chiyomi Sumida, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, September 26, 2008

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Almost eight inches of water was not enough to quench Okinawa’s thirst.

Prefectural officials said Wednesday that the water situation on Okinawa remains tight despite the 7.9 inches of rain dumped on Okinawa by Typhoon Sinlaku last week.

As of Wednesday, water levels at 10 reservoirs increased to 68.1 percent capacity, rising from the 59.2 percent mark measured on Sept. 12, according to the Okinawa Prefectural Enterprise Bureau, which manages the island’s water supply.

"Typhoon No. 13 (Sinlaku) increased the amount of water stored at the reservoirs," said Yoshiharu Yoneda, coordinator of the bureau’s Water Supply Management Office.

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"Unless we have another typhoon or two, we may face a severe water shortage around January," he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57658