In recent days, the government has finally confronted the water shortage problem and proposed measures to restrict water usage in four stages. It appears that another battle for water rights is about to begin. Why is it that after two consecutive years of spring droughts the government's response policy reveals no new ideas? As usual they fervently hope for rain, and have waited until the last possible moment before implementing emergency measures to ration water.
Taiwan is an island where both torrential rains and droughts occur. Moreover, the island's topography makes water difficult to retain and distribute. Its dense population and highly developed agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors mean an ever-increasing demand for water.
At the same time, there has been no significant increase in annual rainfall, and instead we have seen oscillating variation, which makes drought highly likely. Naturally a coherent water management strategy is far more important as a response than praying for rain.
Virtually all scholars agree that the best strategy for governing water usage would be to set reasonable water prices. From a free market perspective, this means supply and demand should come to a reasonable agreement on prices that reflect the supplier's costs and also provide appropriate profits that can be used to maintain the quality of the supply infrastructure. Although water is one of life's necessities, in the modern era, water is also necessary for the profitability of industry and commerce. It is sacrificed for the sake of improving modern people's standard of living. If the government's management strategy self-defeatingly foregoes the use of the free market, there will be almost no possibility of implementing an effective policy to deal with the drought. Then the only thing left will be to pray.
In the long term, the trend of global warming still hasn't stopped or even slowed. Examples of abnormal climate change have appeared all around the globe. The economic costs of weather-related disasters have continued to climb, accounting for 89 percent of the costs of all natural disasters (including earthquakes) around the globe last year. No matter how advanced modern technology is, disturbances caused by climate change won't stop. On the contrary, they will become more severe because of continuing population growth. As an island nation, Taiwan should be able to conclude that over the long term, the impact of climate change will be a major factor influencing our national security. For this reason, responding to the problem of drought is a matter that will brook no delay. It must be faced squarely.
Raising a demand to set reasonable water prices when the economy is sluggish and prior to the presidential election is seemingly quite hopeless. However, it is also only at this time that we can discern whether our political leaders have a real governing vision and strength of character. Moreover, setting reasonable water prices is not merely a matter of price hikes.
Instead it will involve a complex variety of complementary measures. In simple terms, raising water prices is intended to limit water usage, but in a modern industrial and commercial society, it isn't easy to cut down on water usage.
Thus it will undoubtedly be necessary to recycle water through a process of continuous filtration and sterilization. Such a system will require developing an environmentally friendly water industry that increases the rate of water recycling by means of technological innovations and large-scale facilities to conserve and circulate water. Even equipment to collect and treat rainwater will be a useful tool when dealing with future climate change.
The important thing is that while the costs of investing in and installing this equipment may be prohibitive in the short run, under the premise that water prices continue to rise, it should be possible to recover those costs after several years. In addition, if we reckon on the basis of Taiwan's innumerable factories and households, an environmentally friendly water industry should eventually benefit Taiwan's economy. Of course, it will also be beneficial to environmental sustainability.
Setting water prices involves a comprehensive plan for water management and an environmentally friendly water industry.
There will be endless problems, but the results will benefit future generations. No matter how difficult it will be, we will ultimately have to get started.
Liu Chung-ming is a professor in the department of atmospheric science at National Taiwan University.
Translated by Ethan Harkness
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