New discounts to encourage water conservation were announced by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday.
“Even though there is no water shortage in Taipei, we still need to conserve water to enable us to help New Taipei City,” Ko said.
He said that residents and businesses that reduce consumption would be offered discounted water rates, which would be slashed by up to 50 percent on a sliding scale directly proportional to the reduction in water usage.
The Taipei Water Department estimated that conservation discounts introduced in February have already saved an average of 15 tonnes of water per day, which has been distributed to parts of New Taipei City to relieve conditions of low water levels in the Shihmen Reservoir.
A continuing drought has led to the reservoir’s water level dropping to 20 percent of its capacity, with third-phase water rationing to be introduced next month throughout much of the reservoir’s service area, cutting off running water two days per week.
Taipei has largely been spared the effects of the water shortage plaguing most of the western coastal plain, with the city’s Feitsui Reservoir water level currently standing at 90 percent.
The Taipei Water Department said that conservation discounts would remain in effect until the government announces the end of water rationing.
The department also announced that it would more than double the number of pickup sites available for trucks to fill up with water for transportation to afflicted areas.
Ko also said the capital was considering raising water prices beginning next year, with Taipei water rates currently 20 percent lower than the rest of the nation.
He added that the extent of a prospective price hike had yet to be determined, but would likely affect only heavy water users.
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