TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Water conservation measures have been implemented in Hsinchu and Taichung as below-average rainfall and uncertainty over the upcoming plum rain season raise concerns over supply, the Water Resources Agency said Tuesday.
The agency issued a green light water alert for Taichung, signaling a water supply warning, while Hsinchu was placed under a yellow light, triggering reduced water pressure during overnight hours, per CNA.
The WRA said rainfall in western Taiwan has been below average since winter, with April precipitation also expected to fall short of historical levels. Uncertainty surrounding May’s plum rain season further prompted the agency to adjust water supply indicators in the two regions, while conditions elsewhere remain normal.
Taiwan’s water alert system consists of four levels. A green light indicates a warning, a yellow light signals reduced water pressure, an orange light represents reduced water supply, and a red light denotes zoned or fixed-time water distribution.
In Taichung, the Liyutan Reservoir’s storage level has fallen to around 30%, lower than in recent years. Authorities have begun activating drought-resistant wells and using groundwater as a supplementary source without affecting irrigation.
Science parks and industrial zones are continuing voluntary water conservation measures, reducing usage by about 7%, while agricultural authorities are implementing rotational irrigation and sluice gate controls.
In Hsinchu, reduced water pressure measures have been in place since March 12. Water pressure is lowered daily from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during off-peak hours to minimize the impact on households and industry.
To stabilize supply in the region, the WRA has implemented cross-regional water allocation, including transfers between Shihmen Reservoir in Taoyuan and Yongheshan Reservoir in Miaoli. These measures have helped reduce outflow from Baoshan and Baoer reservoirs and maintain the yellow alert status.
The agency noted that rainfall in reservoir catchment areas from Hsinchu to Tainan has reached only 9% to 35% of the historical average since November, the lowest level recorded in 75 years. However, water conservation and allocation projects under the Forward-Looking Infrastructure Development Program have saved an estimated 810 million tonnes of water since last summer.
Some reservoirs in southern Taiwan, including Lantan and Renyitan in Chiayi and Tsengwen Reservoir in Tainan, have storage levels below 40%. However, joint operations between Tsengwen and Wushantou reservoirs have maintained a combined storage of about 190 million tonnes, which can be supplied to Tainan via the Tsengwen-Nanhua pipeline.
In addition, increased water intake from the Zhuoshui River is supplying Yunlin and supporting Chiayi with approximately 90,000 tonnes of water per day.
The WRA said it will continue to implement flexible water management strategies to respond to changing conditions and ensure a stable supply. The agency urged the public and all sectors to conserve water and prepare for potential drought conditions later this year.
