The Hsinchu County government has started offering citizens recycled water, in an effort to deal with the current water shortage.
The local Zhutong and Zhubei water recycling centers are each providing between 1,000 to 1,500 tons of recycled water per day. Water officials say that people can collect the water free of charge
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Officials say the recycled water can be used for house-cleaning and for watering plants in the run-up to the six-day Lunar New Year holiday, which will begin Feb. 18.
The economics ministry says that in light of the continuing drought, phase-two water rationing will begin in Hsinchu on Feb. 26. That means that the water supply will be suspended for high-usage facilities such as water fountains, street cleaners and other major non-urgent users of water.
Non-industrial users that consume more than 1,000 cubic meters of water per month, including swimming pools and car washes, will see their supply cut by 20%. Industrial users, on the other hand, will have their supply cut by 5%.
Medical institutions and other designated users will not be subject to rationing.