At Thursday's Cabinet meeting, Premier Chen Chien-jen received a briefing from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on the near-term outlook for the nation's water supply and proposed response measures. The premier said extreme climate shocks are a global phenomenon, the impacts of which can be expected to increase in severity year-by-year. Water resource-related natural disasters occur all over the world and many nations are now faced with similar challenges. Southern Taiwan has recently experienced 600 days without significant rainfall. The premier thanked the relevant ministries and agencies for deploying preemptive measures for comprehensive water conservation and drought prevention, including water allocation adjustment and management for end users, water resource development for mid-level suppliers, and conservation and dredging work at upstream catchment areas.
The premier said that at this crucial juncture, he has asked the National Development Council to accelerate its review of the MOEA's 2023 plan to stabilize water supply and combat drought in southern Taiwan. The premier also directed the MOEA and related central government agencies to work closely with local governments to continue increasing water treatment plant output, adjusting regional water allocation and constructing new drought-resistant water wells. These combined efforts will alleviate the impact of droughts and cultivate water resources to serve as insurance during times of low rainfall.