The Water Resources Agency says it is worried about future water shortages, although it says conditions are still normal.
According to the agency’s deputy director, Wang Yi-feng, Taiwan’s reservoirs are at more than 50% capacity following a particularly wet spring. He says that’s enough to meet the island’s agricultural and industrial needs.
However, climate change has reduced the number of typhoons striking Taiwan. The rain they bring is an important source of water for the island. In a normal year, Taiwan is hit by three or four typhoons. But so far this year, there have been none.
The agency is therefore adopting water conservation and management measures to increase its backup supply. These include relying on rivers and streams instead of reservoirs for water and improving rainwater storage.