TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The water storage rate of Shihmen Reservoir fell to 24.2% on Wednesday (April 17), even lower than the level during the severe drought of 2021.
Taoyuan City Mayor Chang San-cheng explained that this is due to the fact that in 2021, Taoyuan had a fallow period and did not supply water to farmland. However, this year, there was no fallow period, and water continued to be supplied to farmland, resulting in a lower reservoir storage rate than during the same period of the severe drought.
Chang pointed out that the peak period for irrigation water has passed, so farmland will not be affected. He is hopeful that the plum rains will bring abundant rainfall to alleviate the water shortage. Chang mentioned that if the plum rains do not come, and the rice begins to head while the water situation at Shihmen Reservoir does not improve, it may be necessary to prepare for the worst.
The Taoyuan Mayor stated that the water supply area of Shimen Reservoir includes the Bansin Water Treatment Plant, which has been supplied by Feitsui Reservoir since April 13.
Currently, only areas with higher terrain are supplied by Shihmen Reservoir. Taoyuan City's Department of Economic Development is preparing drought resistance measures, which include nearly 300 drought-resistant wells, eight water resource centers, and more than 700 water towers.