The water level in northern Taiwan’s Shihmen Reservoir has risen by 1% since water rationing took effect Wednesday. Under the rationing program, water is being cut two days a week to residents of Taoyuan and certain districts of New Taipei City.
Secretary-General of the Water Resources Agency Lai Chien-hsin said that as of noon Thursday, water levels have returned to 25% of the reservoir’s capacity. Lai said that on balance, the reservoir is accumulating water, but that officials will need to continue observing average water levels over an extended period of time.
Meanwhile Economics Minister John Deng said Thursday that the industrial output in the areas affected by water rationing amounts to NT$13.3 billion (over US$400 million). Deng said that the initial stages of water rationing could see losses of more than NT$1 billion (roughly US$32 million).
According to Deng, water usage on the first day of rationing spiked by 300,000 tons as residents in affected areas rushed to stockpile water. However, Deng said that this was within official expectations.
Rainfall on Wednesday has also helped ease the water shortage, with accumulation reaching 5.3mm. It is believed that Wednesday’s rainfall could bring more than 1 million tons of water into the Shihmen Reservoir.