Water supplies to be ensured until the end of June

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Yin Chi-ming (尹啟銘) said yesterday that water supplies to both industrial and residential sectors in the north will be ensured till the end of June.

Information pertaining to recent rainfall and the situations major reservoirs were was carefully reviewed by water resources officials at a meeting about handling the impending water shortage held by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) yesterday.

"Although water levels at major reservoirs in central and northern Taiwan have increased significantly because of recent rainfall, it's still to early to lift the first stage of water conservation measures," Yin said yesterday.

Since March 7, the first stage of water conservation measures have been imposed in the northern counties of Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu, as well as Penghu County, where water pressure was reduced between 11pm and 5am.

Yin said that the possibility of lifting the first stage of water conservation measures would not be discussed until early next month when more reliable rainfall data and weather forecasting information would be available.

Statistics from the MOEA's Water Resources Agency showed that water levels at two major reservoirs in the north, Shihmen Dam in Taoyuan County and Feiusui Reservoir in Taipei County, are higher than at the same time last year, leaving reservoir operations more flexibility this year.

"We predict that water supplies to all sectors after June will become normal," Yin said.

In the south, Yin said, the situation of the Tsengwen (曾文) and Wushantou (烏山頭) reservoirs in Tainan County and Jenyitan (仁義潭) and Lantan (蘭潭) reservoirs in Chiayi County remains worrisome.

Yin said, however, the Tainan-based Chianan Irrigation Association (嘉南農田水利會) will enhance irrigation management in order to shift 15 million cubic meters of water from the sector of agriculture to meet demand from industry and residents.

Yin said the MOEA would keep its eyes on the weather in the near future.