The Water Resources Agency (WRA) will meet early next month to examine water levels and discuss contingency plans to deal with a possible water shortage this summer, WRA Director-General Chen Shen-hsien (陳伸賢) said on Sunday.
The agency said the plum rain season would come later than usual this year.
PRECIPITATION
Plum rains usually occur around the middle of May. Formed by moist air from the Pacific meeting cooler continental air masses, plum rains often bring prolonged precipitation to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and eastern China.
The plum rain season, which often lasts until mid-summer, is so named because it coincides with the ripening season of the fruit.
The period usually accounts for 33 percent of Taiwan’s annual rainfall, Chen said.
However, the plum rains have failed so far this year, with only 10mm of precipitation recorded at Taoyuan County’s Shimen Reservoir last week.
The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast precipitation in the coming week with the arrival of another front.
Chen said the plum rains would be felt later than usual because of the “leap month” (an extra lunar month) added to the end of the fifth month of the lunar calendar this year.
Despite the recent lack of rain, water reserves are sufficient to meet current requirements, Chen said.
Water held in reservoirs in southern Taiwan is mainly for agricultural use, and so far, the water supply has been sufficient to meet the region’s needs, Chen said.
Water stored in reservoirs in northern Taiwan is mainly for domestic use. Shimen Reservoir currently has about 83 million cubic meters of water, approximately 40 percent of capacity.
RATIONING
Until the plum rains arrive, the counties of Taoyuan and Hsinchu will continue water rationing measures, including cutting water pressure at night and controlling the total volume of water dispensed, Chen said.
As for Nangan Township on Matsu, which faces a severe water shortage, the WRA will continue to deliver 1,000m³ of water per day from Taiwan, Chen said.
A seawater desalination plant under construction is expected to be completed at the end of this year. It will supply 950m³ of fresh water per day, he said.
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