Taiwan Quick Take: Desalination plants planned

The state-run Taiwan Water Corp will build two seawater desalination plants this year in Makung (馬公) and Hsiyu (西嶼) on the outlying Penghu islands, in the wake of Penghu's increasing demand for water, a spokesman for the corporation said yesterday. Two old seawater desalination plants in Makung and on Wanan Island (望安) will also be renovated, the spokesman added. The corporation's deputy chief manager, Chen Fu-tien (陳福田), said Penghu's demand for water has been increasing along with the development of tourism, prompting the need for more seawater desalination plants. After the Hsiyu desalination plant is completed this December, it will provide 750 tonnes of water per day, while the Makung plant will be able to provide 5,500 tonnes of water per day upon completion, Chen said.