High-tech industry repeats its call for desalination plant

The high-tech industry yesterday voiced its dissatisfaction with the government over water shortages, saying the government should go ahead with a plan to build a water desalination plant.

"We've been urging the government to build a sea-water desalination plant for years, but the government seems reluctant to do so, due to the high costs," said Charlie Hsu (徐嘉立), convener of a panel helping companies in the technology-heavy Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park deal with water and electricity problems.

In recent years, water shortages have led the government to place restrictions on water for industrial use and that has become a major concern for companies in the park, which is home to the nation's major chip-making companies.

The first stage of water restrictions, reducing water pressure in offpeak hours, came into force in the north on March 6.

Currently the park consumes 125,000 tonnes of water per day from the Paoshan Reservoir in Hsinchu County, Yungho Mountain Reservoir in Miaoli County and a small reservoir near the park.

Companies in the park do not have to worry about their water supply before the end of October this year, as Paoshan Reservoir still has 4.3 million tonnes of water, while Yungho Mountain Reservoir contains 14 million tonnes, Hsu said.

"We have tried our best to save water as much as we can, but a water-shortage concern still exists, as the production volume of various high-tech products is rising this quarter," Hsu said.

"Many companies are still preparing for possible water restrictions, despite the fact that the second phase of water restrictions in northern Taiwan will not apply to water for industrial use," Hsu said.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world's largest manufacturer of made-to-order computer chips, has most of its facilities in the park and is trying to enhance the recycling rate of its waste water, said company spokesman Tzeng Jinnhaw (曾晉皓).

According to a report from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in March, the rate of recycled water usage has reached over 95 percent among semiconductor manufacturers, which allows them to maintain operation for one to one and half months once the water supply is completely cut off.

In addition, TSMC is working on production methods that require less water, Tzeng said.

"We have invested a lot in solving the water problem," Tzeng said.

"Our production is therefore not affected by it, even last year when the government imposed rationing," Tzeng said.

Over at rival United Microelectronics Corp (聯電), besides making use of recycled water and economizing on water usage, the company has contracted water transportation companies to truck in water if necessary, a public relations official said on condition of anonymity.

He also pushed for the sea-water plant.

"A sea-water desalination plan is indeed needed, as other measures can only help us to weather short-term water shortages."