Taiwan battles severe drought

A lingering drought has pushed the water level at Taipei's Feitshui Reservoir to danger lows

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Taipei government has ordered the implementation of the second phase of water restrictions as a prolonged drought continues to push the water level of the city's reservoir to dangerous lows.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou has ordered the second of the five-phase water conservation plan to be implemented on May 8, as there are no signs of relief for northern Taiwan.

The first phase has already led to the suspension of the watering of flowers and shrubbery at city government facilities, and street-cleaning activities that make use of water.

Fountains around the city have also been turned off, while cleaning of the exterior of buildings has been suspended.

But the second phase of water rationing is considered more rigorous, cutting off water supplies to public and private swimming pools, saunas, therapeutic spas and car washes.

The third step, meanwhile, includes reducing water supplies to government and military facilities, large private companies, and temples.

For the fourth step, water supply to all facilities will be reduced by 35 percent, while the fifth step entails a 50 percent reduction of the water supply.

Weather forecasters said the level of accumulated rainfall in the capital Taipei in the last four months is only 46% of the 30-year average for the same period.

"This is serious. It's an island-wide problem," a forecaster at the Central Weather Bureau told Reuters news agency. "The likelihood of rain is very slim in late April and early May. There is no relief in sight."

Buying water

A number of islands in Taiwan are considering buying water from mainland China

Meanwhile, officials on the island of Quemoy, also known as Kinmen, and another island, Penghu, said they planned to buy water from nearby China if the drought continues.

Taiwan is hoping its "plum rains" in May and June will refill reservoirs, but Premier Yu Shyi-kun was quoted as warning government agencies to "prepare for the worst".

"It hasn't rained for two to three months. The water level is going down fast," a Quemoy government official told Reuters.

"We hope the central government can agree to let us buy water from the mainland. The other side is keen to help and said they could have an undersea pipeline ready soon," he added.

"In the past ... we counted on supply from Taiwan. But we may have to turn to mainland China this year because Taiwan also has its own shortage," a Penghu official also told Reuters.

The Taiwan policymaking Mainland Affairs Council said buying water from the mainland would not be a problem but transporting it by an undersea pipeline was politically sensitive.