Water officials say that rainy weather and cloud seeding efforts have brought some relief amid Taiwan’s worst drought in decades.
Officials say that the latest figures, released on Sunday morning, show that the rain has added anywhere between 4-10 days of water to each of the nation’s eight reservoirs. They also say that the recent rainfall has covered most of the island, making it the broadest expanse of rain that Taiwan has experienced in six months.
Two reservoirs serving the northern county of Hsinchu – Baoshan and Baoer – each recorded an increase of water that can extend service by ten days. Water officials say that the nation’s farmlands have also benefited from the recent rainy weather, making it possible to cut back on the water needed for irrigation.
Water officials say that water rationing has helped keep Shihmen Reservoir in northern Taiwan at 25% capacity. Feitsui Reservoir has also helped pick up the slack. Officials say that even though Feitsui Reservoir has filled in for Shihmen Reservoir in serving the water needs of some parts of Greater Taipei area, it has remained at 80% capacity.