Climate change is affecting water access for people around the world. To avoid central Taiwan from being affected by the drought last year, Mayor Lu Shiew-Yen carried out an inspection of Shih-Kang Dam Reservoir today (on the 22nd) and pointed out that the water situation may be affected by three factors: The lack of reservoir water in southern Taiwan; the decommissioning of Reactor 2 of the Nuclear Power Plant 2; and the lack of spring rain this year. She stressed that domestic water and electricity are the most important things; and that how to supply sufficient water and electricity should be considered at priority. She said that, due to extreme weather around the world and Taiwan’s difficulty in managing water resources, she hoped that the city government will cooperate with the central government to deliberate response measures in advance and speed up the construction of water resources infrastructure.
The impact of climate change has led to a prolonged drought in southern Taiwan. After Kaohaiung’s water-storage level changed from a blue light (“normal”) to a green light (“alert”) in February, it is expected that the water-storage level of Chiayi will change from a green to a yellow light (“water supplied with low pressure”) in March; and that of Tainan will change from a yellow to an orange light ("reducing water supply"). In response to it, Mayor Lu held a meeting with the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Central Region Water Resources Office today to know about the proposed countermeasures and to listen to the briefing on the current water demand and supply in the greater Taichung area. She pointed out that there were three reasons for making an early inspection on water resource facilities this year. First, the current water shortage in southern Taiwan, especially in Tainan, is very critical as the remaining capacity of Tseng-Wen Reservoir is less than 30%. Second, in mid-March, Reactor 2 of Nuclear Plant 2 in northern Taiwan will be decommissioned and will no longer generate electricity and the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that hydroelectricity would be adopted for power generation instead. As central Taiwan, especially in Taichung, is base of hydroelectricity source, central Taiwan can suffer from a water shortage if the water is discharged to generate electricity without a proper arrangement. Third, the Central Weather Bureau announced that the spring and plum rain of this year would be relatively low and showed its concern about having insufficient water supply in the future.
Mayor Lu said that she hoped that, after the decommissioning of the said nuclear reactor in March, the central government would pay attention to the storage capacity of the downstream dams of Te-Chi Reservoir in Dajia River before using them to generate power; otherwise the production of hydroelectric power may result in a water shortage in central Taiwan. May Lu expressed her hope that Taiwan Power Company and Water Resources Agency will cherish and conserve water resources. Furthermore, whether central Taiwan will suffer from the lack of spring rain this year, Mayor also expressed her aspiration to cooperate with the central government in terms of having an early allocation and deployment in response to it. Currently, the Water Resources Agency is building the Niaozuitan Reservoir, which will supply water to the Changhua upon completion thereof around the end of this year to reduce Taichung’s burden in supplying water to Changhua. Moreover, the Daan-Dajia pipeline connection project is also expected to be completed in 2026; and, apart from Fu Tian and Shuinan water reclamation centers, it is hoped that another water reclamation center will be built in Wuri: The land has been prepared by the National Property Administration, only the estimated construction cost is about NTD 4.6 billion, which cannot be borne solely by the local governments. Mayor Lu hoped that the central government would provide assistance accordingly in order to initiate the construction as soon as possible, so that the center could supply reclaimed water to manufacturers without affecting domestic water supply.
Deputy director of the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Huang Hong-pu said that the current water situation in Taichung was still stable and thanked the city government for jointly fighting against the drought in the past two years and completing many backup measures, such as deep-water wells for drought relief. In the future, the Agency will allocate water resources based on the weather information provided by the Central Weather Bureau without affecting domestic water supply.
Director of the Water Resources Bureau Fan Shih-yi said that the city government had started water reclamation infrastructure projects; and that the Futian Water Resource Reclamation Project was the first water reclamation project launched in the central Taichung. With a total budget of NTD 4.07 billion, this project, which is now in progress and is expected to end at in December 2025, aims to bury water pipelines along South District, Wuri District, Dadu District, and Longjing District and is expected to supply about 58,000 CMD (cubic meters per day) of water to the Taichung Harbor Related Industrial Park. The Shuinan Water Reclamation Project, on the other hand, plans to transport reclaimed water from the Shuinan Water Reclamation Center to Central Taiwan Science Park and the daily output water supply can reach 10,000 CMD (cubic meters per day). The Bureau already signed a contract with a private organization, Youpei Water Co., Ltd., in last May and the water is expected to be supplied in May next year.
The Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs mentioned that Shih-Kang Dam Reservoir is located at the downstream weir dam of the Dajia River. Since its completion in 1977, it has supplied public, industrial, and agricultural irrigation water to the great Taichung area and some areas in Changhua county. Although it is now in the dry season, the Water Resources Agency and relevant units have made an early deployment since last June. By taking Taichung as an example, all government units have jointly collaborated in cross-regional water allocation and water control, and managed to save about 30 million tons of water. Now, the water storage rate of the reservoir can still be maintained at above 60%. The agency expressed the hope that, with the collaboration and efforts of all units, they would be able to minimize the impact of water shortage.
The Water Resources Bureau further pointed out the ned to monitor the water situation before the rainy season in Taiwan and appealed to citizens to cherish water resources. The city government will continue to monitor the water storage level of reservoirs in central Taiwan and the water supply situation of Taiwan Water Corporation; and will cooperate with the central government's water-saving actions while satisfying the needs of domestic water and water for the agriculture and industry in Taichung.

Mayor Lu; Deputy Director of the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Huang Hong-pu; Legislator Chiang Chi-chen; City Councilor Tsai Cheng-gui; Director of the Water Resources Bureau Fan Shih-yi; Director of the Economic Development Bureau Chang Feng-yuan; and Director of Information Bureau Zheng Zhao-Xin all joined today's inspection and paid their attention to the current water situation. (2/22*10)*Water Conservancy Bureau