South faces drought; water supply limited

Whether water used for agricultural irrigation will be purchased and filtered for public consumption will be determined by the end of the month.

According to WRA Director General Yang Wei-fu, this autumn yielded less than half the average amount of rain recorded in past years. Major water suppliers Tseng-Wen (曾文水庫), Wu-Shan-Tou (烏山頭水庫) and Nan-Hua Reservoir (南化水庫) all measured at a mere 50% of water capacity.

The threat of drought has become increasingly evident; Rivers in the Kaohsiung and Pingtung regions have started to dry up. The water supply of the Nan-Hua Reservoir (南化水庫), which is used by various surrounding factories, comes from the parched Gaoping River.

The river, the water of which measured at 200 cubic meters per second this past summer, has trickled down to approximately 30 cubic meters per second; it is 40 cubic meters less than the amount measured this time last year.

According to Kaohsiung District predictions, if it doesn't rain within the next three months, the water supply of the greater Kaohsiung area will last only until next February.

The district's Taiwan Water Corporation yesterday met with factory representatives to discuss efforts that can abate the water shortage, especially if a natural disaster strikes.

In the case of a severe drought, the district will cooperate with the Tainan Water Supply System, where water will be supplied from the Chengqing Lake.

According to Yang, water rationing measures may soon be implemented in the south.

The agency reported that the first measure taken in regards to the diminishing water supply will be to reserve the water for public use and consumption. If agricultural irrigation water can be transformed into drinking water, there should be an adequate supply to sustain the region until next June.

In the northern areas, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) yesterday predicted a drop in temperatures after a northeast wind sweeps over the region.

The temperature drop may usher in a chance of rain, the bureau added.

However, the weather in the southern regions is not predicted to experience much change, unless there is an arrival of a cold front or typhoon, the CWB said.

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