Late Spring Rains Replenish Taiwan's Parched Reservoirs
A timely seasonal rain spell has delivered roughly 390 million tons of water to Taiwan's reservoirs, effectively resolving low water levels across the southern region. While the intense downpours have quieted down, weather authorities say precipitation will persist for another week. The Water Resources Agency is now expediting cross-regional pipeline networks to secure intercity water sustainability ahead of summer.
Taiwan’s spring rainy season is coming to an end... ...and parts of the west coast have seen over 200 millimeters of rainfall since a heavy rain warning was issued earlier this week...
The deluge has filled the country’s reservoirs with hundreds of millions of tons of water ... Bringing a much-needed boost to water supply in the south.
LIN YUAN-PENG, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WATER RESOURCES AGENCY (Taipei): "It has brought a total of 390 million metric tons of water especially if you look at Tainan in the south which saw low water levels in some reservoirs. These have all improved."
Water officials say before this week’s downpour, spring rains had been unseasonably sparse, leaving reservoirs at low levels. The agency is now building cross-city and county pipelines to supply water from one reservoir to another in need.
Officials say over 520 million tons of water have already been transferred this way.
LIN YUAN-PENG, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WATER RESOURCES AGENCY (Taipei): "There are 16 pipes in total. 10 of them are complete and six are still under construction. Through these regional water transfers our water supply will become more sustainable."
Premier Cho Jung-tai is urging the project to be sped up ... so each region can be better prepared for continued summer rain.
CHO JUNG-TAI, TAIWAN PREMIER (Keelung, Taiwan): "It looks like the rain has mostly fallen in reservoirs. That’s why Zengwen and Nanhua reservoirs in the south are seeing rising water levels. This is also why we often say “good winds and timely rainfall.” We hope the rain will bring water to the reservoirs and not to our streets."
Weather authorities say while the downpours have eased... light showers will continue for at least another week... with stable water supplies until at least September.
