Politics

Rains may break drought in southern Taiwan

The WRA believes Zengwen Reservoir in southern Taiwan contains enough water to maintain normal supplies until mid-June. (CNA)

• Publication Date：05/11/2010
• Source： Liberty Times

Rainfall starting on the afternoon of May 10 in southern Taiwan could help alleviate the drought there if it continues through May 11, according to the Water Resources Agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The Central Weather Bureau said the first frontal system of the “plum rain” season laden with moisture arrived May 10. As of 9 p.m. the CWB’s data showed 27.5 millimeters of rainfall at the Shouka weather station in Pingtung County’s Mudan Township, 24.5 milliliters at the Xuhai weather station, also in Mudan, and 24.5 milliliters at the Meishan weather station in Kaohsiung County’s Taoyuan Township.

In northern Taiwan, 22 milliliters of precipitation were recorded at Taoyuan County’s Xinwu weather station.

The WRA said water levels at southern reservoirs currently stand at 19.46 million metric tons at Nanhua Reservoir, 58.47 million metric tons at Zengwen Reservoir and 55.22 million metric tons at Wushantou Reservoir. Even without rain, these levels are sufficient at least until mid-June, the agency added.

At Shihmen Reservoir in the north, however, rainfall in March and April was down 165.7 millimeters compared to the same period last year, and most of it did not fall within the reservoir’s catchment basin, resulting in a 10-meter drop in the water level, leaving the dam at 60 percent of capacity.

Chang Ting-hua, director of the Shihmen Reservoir Administration, said as weather fronts passed over Taiwan in the last two weeks, most of the rain has fallen in the lowlands, with little of it reaching reservoirs. Although there was rain throughout the north May 10, only 3.6 millimeters fell at the reservoir, he noted.

Shihmen Reservoir is now restricting water for irrigation use, supplying only 70 percent of the normal daily volume of 1.5 million metric tons. Water for household use is still being provided at the usual rate of 1.2 million metric tons per day. If precipitation levels are not ideal, the dam administration will be forced to consider comprehensive water rationing.

The CWB said cloudy and cool weather will continue until May 12. The plum rain frontal system is lingering in the skies over Taiwan, with unpredictable intermittent rain. Temperatures will gradually rise starting May 13, but over the weekend afternoon thundershowers are still expected. (THN)