The ministry will distribute 500,000 water-saving gaskets, small devices that fit on faucets, to Kaohsiung residents; the MOEA plans to offer incentives to families who save water, giving maximum discounts of 15 percent on water fees to households who use less water.

The MOEA will provide 5 percent off of water bills for families who use one-tenth less water and 10 percent off of water bills to those whose water usage drops by up one-fifth.

Families who conserve more water than that will receive the maximum 15 percent discount.

Because of the low rates for water fees, this project may seem trivial, but it means a lot, said Young Wei-fu, director-general of Water Resources Agency under the MOEA.

Young added that he hopes the average person's water consumption can drop from the current 274 liters to 250 liters.