Zengwen Reservoir Releases Water for Power Generation as Chia-Nan Irrigation Begins

Zengwen Reservoir is approaching its full capacity, holding nearly 87% of its storage rate thanks to consistent rainfall from typhoons and afternoon thunderstorms since July 1. The reservoir has accumulated approximately 101.41 million cubic meters of water, with a peak of 30 million cubic meters recorded on July 11.

To optimize water resource use, the Water Resources Agency initiated a full-capacity release for power generation on July 20. The water is being transferred to Wushantou Reservoir for backup storage. This move comes as the critical second phase of irrigation for the Chia-Nan irrigation area, vital for southern Taiwan's food production, is underway.

This second phase covers 40,000 hectares and requires nearly 350 million cubic meters of water, almost double the amount needed for the first phase. While the first and second irrigation groups began on July 1, and the third and fourth groups started on July 11, the largest sections, groups five and six, totaling over 15,000 hectares, officially commenced on July 21. As the entire 40,000-hectare area enters its peak irrigation period, daily water demand will significantly increase. Despite the current healthy reservoir levels, the substantial agricultural water needs necessitate close monitoring of future weather patterns and water management strategies to avoid potential shortages.