TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that Hsinchu began reducing tap water pressure between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. starting Thursday as part of efforts to cut water use amid reduced rainfall, CNA reported.
The Central Weather Administration said rainfall from March to April may be below average. Coupled with irrigation demand for rice cultivation in February and March, water levels at Baoshan Reservoir and Second Baoshan Reservoir are expected to continue declining.
According to the Hsinchu County Government, monthly rainfall in the county since November has totaled about 30% of the historical average. Meanwhile, the flow of the county’s Touqian River has continued to decline. Storage levels at Baoshan Reservoir have fallen to 25.7%, while those at Second Baoshan Reservoir stand at 33.8%.
Hsinchu’s daily water demand is about 695,000 metric tonnes, the county government said. The two reservoirs are the main water source for the Hsinchu Science Park, particularly for semiconductor foundries, supplying up to 190,000 metric tonnes daily.
The county’s two water recycling centers in Zhubei City and Zhudong Township can supply about 3,000 metric tonnes of water daily for cleaning and irrigation. Taiwan Water said it has launched measures to manage water distribution and pressure, and will deploy water trucks and set up temporary water stations if necessary.
The ministry said it has launched an initiative to transfer water from other reservoirs through pipelines. Taoyuan’s Shihmen Reservoir can supply Hsinchu with 175,000 metric tonnes daily, while Miaoli’s Yongheshan Reservoir can provide 55,000 metric tonnes per day.
In addition, the Water Resources Agency has put the backup wells along the Touqian River into operation. The wells can supply up to 31,000 metric tonnes of water daily.
The ministry is constructing a pipeline linking Shihmen Reservoir to the two reservoirs in Hsinchu, aiming to ensure an uninterrupted water supply. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of this year and will help support the water supply to the science park.
The ministry added it has previously transferred water from the Touqian River to the science park. The park is higher than the river, so the water must be pumped, and many pipelines are old, which could cause leaks.
