Water supplies to both residents and industry might be reduced next month if water levels at two major reservoirs in the north reach an alarming state, according to Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Yin Chi-ming (
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' yesterday held its second meeting on handling the impending water shortage to review results of the first stage of water restrictions imposed on March 6.
Statistics suggest that residents in affected areas, including northern counties and Penghu County, consumed 3 percent to 4 percent less water than normal because water pressure was reduced between 10pm and 6am.
Yin said that the question of whether to launch a second stage of water-conservation mea-sures would be discussed after April 1 and would be based on weather conditions and water levels at Shihmen Dam in Taoyuan County and Feitsui Reservoir in Taipei County.
"Once water levels reach 137m at the Feitsui Reservoir and 214m at Shihmen Dam, the second stage will be announced immediately," Yin said.
The water level at Feitsui was 144.8m yesterday, while Shih-men's level was 219.9m.
According to forecasters at Central Weather Bureau yesterday, rain is not expected until next Tuesday.
When the second stage of the measures is imposed, Yin said, water supply to non-industrial heavy users and industrial ones would be reduced to 80 percent and 95 percent of the original respectively.
In addition, Yin said, water supply to artificial fountains, fire hydrants and others, would be suspended.
Yin said, however, supplies to swimming pools, saunas and car washes would not be entirely suspended in an effort to avoid creating unemployment.
The Legislative Yuan has demanded a special report from the Cabinet on the impeding water shortage.
That report is scheduled to be reviewed next week.
Meanwhile, the Taipei City Council has also demanded a special report from Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Ma's report will be presented next Thursday.
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