Print

Mail

wiki links

Editorial: Calming troubled waters

Water is both a generous blessing and a curse for Taiwan. As an island nation, the sea is the source of income and recreation. But the annual typhoon season brings heavy rains and destruction with it, such as the trail of disaster recently left by Typhoon Toraji in Nantou, Hualien and other counties. This summer, however, has been a relatively dry one. Water levels have been falling at reservoirs in northern Taiwan -- triggering a fight for water between Taipei City and Taipei County. While Toraji was a natural disaster, the city-county water war, along with a plan by the Miaoli County Government to levy a water tax are all man-made disasters in the making -- and political ones at that.

The Feitsui reservoir in Taipei County was built by and is managed by the Taipei City Government. It can provide 3.4 million tonnes of water per day. Out of this, Taipei City uses 2.1 million tonnes, Taipei County uses 1 million tonnes and the city reserves the remainder for contingencies.

But now the county government wants more water for its residents. It planned a ceremony to mark the distribution of the additional water, and invited President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to attend. However, it neglected to notify the Taipei City Government of its plans and it didn't invite Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). Feeling miffed, the city government said it could only provide extra water to the county for seven days. Feeling aggrieved, the county cancelled the ceremony and then on Wednesday, its lawmakers led a demonstration in front of Taipei City Hall. Meanwhile, muddying the waters further, so to speak, Taipei City decided to provide some extra water to Keelung City, which is facing a water shortage of its own.

Down in Miaoli County, the Liyutan reservoir supplies water for the Greater Taichung area. Miaoli County Commissioner Fu Hsueh-peng (傅學鵬) recently announced a plan to levy a tax on water supplied to areas outside the county. Fu's reasons were that, since the county suffers from restrictions placed on development in districts surrounding the reservoir's catchment area, it should derive some benefit from the water that is supplied to its neighbors. The Taichung County Government is planning a similar tax on water supplied from its Shihkang reservoir.

The water fight between Taipei City and Taipei County is nothing more than political grandstanding. Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) wants to provide higher quality water to county residents in order to score more points in the year-end election. That was why he invited Chen, but not Taipei's KMT mayor to the opening ceremony. That is also why he did not coordinate his plans with the city.

But when the two local governments fall out over partisan election interests, all the residents suffer. Taipei County may be the loser in the water war, but Taipei City has to rely on the county for everything from garbage to transportation to electricity -- so it can't afford to alienate the county for very long.

The tax plans of both Miaoli and Taichung Counties are based on a "users pay" principle. There is nothing wrong with that. However, levying taxes on neighbors in order to increase one's own revenues will very likely trigger more battles between local governments unless it is done through negotiations and on the basis of mutual interest.

In the long run, turning water supplies into a political controversy is a game with no winners. The central government should invite all the parties concerned to talks and formulate equitable distribution and fee standards. It has been slow to intervene due to election considerations. It can no longer afford to stay on the sidelines.
This story has been viewed 2392 times.