Stringent water restrictions must be taken with the drought becoming more severe and rainy season still uncertain, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said today after hearing the Ministry of Economic Affairs' (MOEA) update on the current water shortage.
Having established a drought command center, the central government has initiated the second phase of water restrictions with the goal of not entering the third phase, Mao added. He asked government agencies to be ready to conduct artificial rain if necessary.
"In addition to short-term measures, the Water Resources Agency should begin mapping plans for the medium and long term. We should start from scratch and rethink the water supply and its utilization, such as requiring big water users to recycle their water or separating the way water is used by businesses and households."
Attention must also be paid to improving water pipelines and sewers, and measures for fixing water pipe leaks should be planned by year and by stage. Dredging operations may be expanded now that many reservoirs are nearing bottom levels, the premier instructed.
With the MOEA and local governments making medium- and long-term plans, now would be an opportune time to start afresh and consider how best to address Taiwan's water shortage problem, Mao said.
The MOEA said that the second-phase water restrictions take effect today for New Taipei City (Linkou and Banxin districts only), Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, northern Changhua and Tainan. Today also begins first-phase restrictions for southern Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi.