Strict water rules to be imposed in early September

Recent rainfalls might postpone the launch of stricter water conservation measures in the greater Taipei area to early September, Water Resources Agency (WRA) Director Chen Shen-hsien (陳伸賢) said yesterday.

Chen said water levels at two major reservoirs in the north were slightly lifted by recent af-ternoon thunderstorms.

Chen said, however, second-phase water conservation measures would be launched should water levels fall to 130m at Feitsui Reservoir in Taipei County and to 210m at Shihmen Dam in Taoyuan County.

"We estimate that the measures would be imposed in early September," Chen said.

Chen yesterday stressed the importance of water conservation because the drought had not been entirely relieved.

Keelung Mayor Hsu Tsai-li (許財利) yesterday asked the Taiwan Water Supply Corp (TWSC) not to impose the third-phase of water restrictions in Keelung on Aug. 20, saying recent rainfalls raised the water level at the Shinshan Reservoir.

TWSC officials said that they would bring up the measures issue at a drought-fighting strategies meeting to be held by the Ministry of Economic Affairs today.

Water resources officials said yesterday that Keelung City's levels remained critical because water supplies from the reservoir could be insufficient by early next month.

"The launch date for the third-phase water conservation measures in Keelung City could be postponed for only a few days," Chen said.

Meanwhile, water supplies in central and southern Taiwan remain steady.