A Cabinet-led task force set up to handle the nation's drought imposed nationwide water restrictions yesterday, prohibiting the use of tap water for recreational purposes.
The new emergency measures also include shifting water away from the agriculture sector to increase supplies for household consumption.
"On May 9, we will discuss the necessity of carrying out stricter emergency measures based on remaining water resources," Kuo Yao-chi (
Beginning last night, the Taiwan Water Supply Corp said it will reduce water pressure by 5 percent between 11pm and 5am to counties that have already implemented the first stage of water rationing. Those counties are Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi and Hualien.
Officials said the nighttime reduction in water pressure would only affect families and businesses located at the end of water mains. Taiwan Water Supply will provide free water delivery to those affected by the measure, officials said.
For other counties that have yet to implement water-rationing controls, the first stage of restrictions will begin today. The use of tap water for recreation purposes will be prohibited.
Taipei City -- which put in place water restrictions of its own last month -- may cut off water to spas, swimming pools and car washes beginning on Wednesday.
In addition, irrigation to 15,000 hectares of agricultural fields in Taoyuan County will be suspended starting today.
"We will compensate affected farmers immediately," Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-lun (
The plan will cost the government an estimated NT$1 billion in payouts to farmers, who will see their crops dry up as a result of the suspension.
Officials from the Water Resources Agency said leaving the fields fallow would save 450,000 tonnes of water daily at the Shihmen Dam (石門水庫) in Taoyuan County.
Chen Shen-hsien (
Dead storage refers to the volume in a reservoir below the lowest controllable level.
"This has never happened at this dam before," Chen said.
Shihmen Dam, completed in 1964, is one of northern Taiwan's major reservoirs. Water at the dam is now at just 7.5 percent of its capacity.
According to Central Weather Bureau, there are no forecasts for rain until the middle of the month.
Chen said the government's drought-emergency measures assume that no rain will come until mid-June.
As of yesterday, the water level at the Feitsui Reservoir (
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"We, the 4.6 million people living in the city, have to be prepared for great hardship and suffering," Ma said, adding that more measures could be in the works later this month.
Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday appealed to the heavens for help. Burning incense and presenting flowers and fruit to a statue of Matsu, the seafarers' goddess, Yu prayed for rain at Chaotien Temple (
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