Rainfall brought by Typhoon Maemi last week increased water levels at major reservoirs, prompting the lifting of water restrictions in Hsinchu yesterday.
Water resources officials said that drought restrictions in the north could possibly be lifted next month, if more rainfall arrives next week.
Central Weather Bureau forecasters said yesterday that the weather would be unstable over the next few days and into next week.
At a Ministry of Economic Affairs meeting yesterday, water resources officials said rain brought by Maemi had somewhat relieved the drought in the north and suggested an immediate lifting of water restrictions in Hsinchu.
Officials said that two reservoirs in Hsinchu now hold 80 percent of their capacity.
As of last night, the ministry said the water pressure in the Hsinchu area would no longer be reduced at night.
Water restrictions in other northern areas, including Taoyuan County, Taipei County, Taipei City and Keelung, will remain in place but lifting them will be discussed at a meeting scheduled for Oct. 7.
"We are looking forward to the next wave of rain, which is expected to arrive this weekend," said Chen Shen-hsien (陳伸賢), director of the ministry's Water Resources Agency.
According to agency, water levels at the two major reservoirs supplying northern Taiwan, Shihmen Dam and the Feitsui Reservoir, are much lower than they were at this time last year.
Chen said Keelung's water supply was stable at present and the situation was unlikely to worsen because there was a possibility of a typhoon developing in the near future.
Forecasters said there was a tropical low-pressure system about 1,000km from Taiwan as of yesterday. They said its peripheral winds might bring rain to eastern Taiwan today, while the north of the country would see rain tomorrow and Sunday.
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