Taiwan's 'Pearl Chain' water plan proves effective in overcoming drought

Southern Taiwan's water supply has successfully navigated a dry period, defying past criticisms of the "Pearl Chain" water management plan. Despite rainfall falling below historical averages since November, the region's water situation remained normal throughout the dry season, thanks to proactive measures and inter-reservoir transfers.

The "Pearl Chain" project, which connects various water sources and reservoirs, faced skepticism, with critics dismissing it as a mere "left hand passing to the right hand." However, water officials highlight its crucial role in ensuring water security. For instance, the Nanhua Reservoir, which would have been depleted by early April without transfers, maintained a significant water reserve of 17.1 million tons by early June.

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Taiwan's rainfall has regional and seasonal unevenness, and each reservoir's storage capacity also differs.

Water Resources Agency Secretary-General Chien Chen-yuan explained that the plan leverages the distinct storage capacities of different reservoirs and the uneven distribution of rainfall across Taiwan. The Nanhua Reservoir, with a smaller capacity, can transfer surplus water to the much larger Tsengwen Reservoir via the Nanhua-Tsengwen inter-basin transfer tunnel. This stored water can then be redirected back to Nanhua when needed during dry spells, ensuring a stable supply.

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Nanhua Reservoir's water can be transferred to Tsengwen Reservoir through the inter-basin transfer tunnel to store surplus water. When Nanhua Reservoir's water level drops during the dry season, water can be transferred back from Tsengwen Reservoir.