Taiwan rations water in Kaohsiung as drought goes on
Print Edition
THE Taiwan government said yesterday it will expand water rationing to its second-largest city next month as the island continues to battle its worst drought in nearly 70 years.
Supplies will be cut to households and businesses in southern Kaohsiung from May 4 for two days a week —the first time such a measure has been imposed in the city, the economic affairs department said.
Water rationing was introduced earlier this month in some areas of northern Taiwan, including Taoyuan and parts of New Taipei city, after the island saw its lowest fall-winter rainfall since 1947.
“The water supply situation in Kaohsiung is urgent. The Gaoping River which is its main source of water is running low as there has been little rain for over nine months in the city,” said Lai Chien-hsin, a spokesman for the water resources agency.
Authorities in Kaohsiung have closed 12 public swimming pools and cut water supplies to industrial and some commercial users in a bid to fight the drought.
Local businesses are bracing themselves for more rationing.
“We will close the swimming pool and sauna next month, and take other measures to conserve water,” said Emily Huang, a publicist for the Lees Hotel in Kaohsiung.
Despite recent light rains, the government has warned that the dry spell is forecast to “continue for most of May.”
The government last imposed water rationing in 2001 in parts of Taiwan, including Taipei, when supplies to car washes, saunas and swimming pools were suspended in the capital.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
