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Rationing of water could begin soon in Taipei region

Water rationing may be imposed as soon as early March in northern Taiwan if water levels in area reservoirs remain limited amid scarce rainfall.

According to Taiwan Provincial Water Company Manager Chen Wu-tsang (陳榮藏), should the Feitsui Reservoir in Taipei County and the Shihmen Reservoir in Taoyuan County fail to take in large amounts of water by March 5, restrictive measures might have to be put in place in view of the sharply falling water levels at the two dams.

The amount of rainfall in February has been far less than the Central Weather Bureau had forecast, posing the threat of water rationing at any time for northern Taiwan, Chen noted, adding that his company and the Taipei Water Department have reached a consensus to jointly curb a possible drought if water levels at the two reservoirs remain low in the next few weeks.

Should the amount of rainfall and water intake at the two major water providers for northern Taiwan be far from satisfactory, Chen said, they will ask the Ministry of Economic Affairs to set up an anti-drought center to prepare for the launch of first-phase restrictions.

These first-phase measures will focus on slashing water supplies to the general public during off-peak hours, while the second-phase will curtail water supplies for cleaning streets, sewers, buildings, car-washes, swimming pools and fountains, in addition to reduced water for large-volume consumers.

The third-phase will impose water rationing per district, while the fourth-phase will provide limited amounts of water only during certain hours for the general public, medical treatment, defense operations and industrial use, in that order.

Due to very low precipitation, the water level of Feitsui Reservoir -- the main source of water for the greater Taipei area -- dropped to 148m as of late Wednesday, which is at least 10m lower than February averages.

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