Taiwan lifts drought alerts as reservoirs reach stable levels

Taiwan's Water Resources Agency announced on June 17 that it has lifted its drought emergency response teams following significant improvements in water levels across the island. The agency noted that reservoirs, particularly in the southern region, have seen their water storage rise to over 220 million tons.

This replenished supply is expected to ensure stable public water usage in southern Taiwan until the end of September. Additionally, the region will maintain over a month's worth of reserve water. This improved situation allows for the irrigation of the first four groups of fields in the Chianan irrigation district, with the Agricultural Water Management Agency preparing for the necessary irrigation operations.

The agency recalled the severe drought conditions experienced earlier in the year, noting that winter rainfall was the lowest in 75 years, with collection areas receiving only 50-70% of average rainfall. To combat this, various central and local authorities implemented proactive measures since June last year. These included inter-basin water transfers, reservoir outflow controls, enhanced agricultural irrigation management, industrial water conservation, and the utilization of diverse water sources, collectively saving 1.1 billion tons of water.

Despite the current relief, the Water Resources Agency emphasized the ongoing need for vigilance due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and unpredictable rainfall patterns. The agency will continue daily monitoring of water conditions and work with relevant units to implement water-saving strategies. Efforts will focus on inter-basin water transfers through the "Pearl String Project" and increasing reservoir storage to ensure stable public, industrial, and agricultural water supply through September, maintaining approximately one month of reserve capacity.