Taiwan Battles Drought

24 April, 2002

The Taiwanese are not usually short of water
By Helen Leavey In Taipei

Taiwan, which usually gets more than its fair share of rainfall, is currently experiencing a drought.

The authorities have brought in measures to fight the problem and have warned they could get even tougher if the weather does not change soon.

Taiwan is an island where typhoons in the summer months bring widespread flooding and often cause many deaths.

But that deluge of water is not consistent throughout the year and the island occasionally suffers from drought.

Now is one of those times, with water being rationed in several places, including the capital Taipei.

Worse to come?

In many areas the use of swimming pools and car washes has been banned and officials are warning that normal water supplies could soon be reduced.

Since the beginning of the year some parts of the island have only seen 16% of the average rainfall for this time of year.

Water levels in reservoirs have been dropping sharply, and irrigation to some rice paddies in the north has been stopped to ensure enough water reaches a key high-tech industrial park, home to some of the island's major electronics companies.

Some officials have resorted to praying at temples asking the gods to bring more rain.

The government is building more reservoirs and plans to build more seawater desalination plants but until they are completed all the government can do, like everyone else, is pray for the heavens to open.

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