The Water Resource Agency (WRA) began cloud-seeding in southern Taiwan on Friday as part of its efforts to deal with a water shortage in that part of the country.
Starting at 5:40 a.m. Friday, the agency lit cloud seeding flares in an attempt to induce rainfall over southern Taiwan. By 7:00 a.m., about 17 to 20mm of rain had fallen in the catchment area. However, the WRA said that this amount is not enough to be help ease the ongoing water shortage.
The WRA called for public efforts to conserve water in order to avoid the need for second-stage water rationing in the region. At present, water pressure is being reduced at night in most parts of the country in the agency's first-stage water rationing measures.
The economics ministry is closely monitoring water levels and will hold a meeting next week to discuss possible drought contingency measures. These may include further conservation by means of second-stage water rationing.