Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday that reservoir construction is not the only option for solving the problem of water shortages and urged residents to develop better water conservation habits.
Ma made the remarks in the wake of an assessment conducted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs that concluded that Taiwan needs to build at least five reservoirs to guard against water shortages brought on by prolonged periods of drought.
In pointing out that building more reservoirs is not the sole solution, Ma said that the construction of too many reservoirs will invariably have an impact on the environment.
He said the most important things are to avoid the buildup of sediment in existing reservoirs, for the government and the private sector to work together on soil and water conservation, and for the public to adopt concerted water-conservation efforts.
The Taipei City Government implemented water rationing measures in mid-May to counter the shortage brought on by the drought.
The water restrictions were lifted only after Typhoon Rammasun last week and Typhoon Nakri this week brought heavy rains. The Central Weather Bureau warned of continuing heavy rains today.
As of yesterday morning, the water level at the Feitsui Reservoir, the major water source for the greater Taipei area, had risen to 145m.
Ma pointed out that only when the water level has reached 160m can the water supply to the greater Taipei area be ensured until the end of the year.
RSS