Heavy Rain Brings 54 Million Tons of Water to Taiwan's Reservoirs, Says WRA

(Central News Agency, reporter Xie Yixuan, Taipei, June 5) Heavy rain fell in many counties and cities across Taiwan. The Water Resources Agency (WRA) stated today that the rainfall mostly fell in reservoir catchment areas. According to statistics from 7:00 a.m. on June 4 to 3:00 p.m. on June 5, reservoirs across Taiwan are expected to gain 54 million tons of water. Water storage in the south has also rebounded, with the Zengwen and Wushantou reservoirs increasing by about 1 million tons, and the Nanhua Reservoir increasing by about 600,000 tons.

Despite the heavy rain in many areas, data from the WRA website showed that as of 7:00 a.m., the water storage rate at Wushantou Reservoir was only 15.7%, and Nanhua Reservoir was at 21.6%. As of 5:00 p.m., the Zengwen Reservoir's storage rate was 9.8%.

In response to questions from CNA, the WRA explained that most of this rainfall fell in reservoir catchment areas, which not only moistened the ground but also significantly benefited the overall water situation across Taiwan. Furthermore, water storage in the south has begun to recover, with the Zengwen and Wushantou reservoirs increasing by about 1 million tons and the Nanhua Reservoir by about 600,000 tons. The increase is expected to grow further.

According to WRA statistics, from 7:00 a.m. on June 4 to 3:00 p.m. on June 5, reservoirs across Taiwan are expected to gain 54 million tons of water. This includes approximately 11 million tons for Shihmen Reservoir, 7 million tons for Liyutan Reservoir, 7 million tons for Deji Reservoir, and about 5.4 million tons for the Zengwen and Wushantou reservoirs.

The WRA pointed out that the current water storage in the Zengwen, Wushantou, and Nanhua reservoirs in Tainan is still about 73 million tons. Since irrigation for the first rice crop of the season was successfully completed on May 31, it has saved reservoir discharge. Public water supply is expected to maintain a safe storage level for one month until the end of June.

The WRA mentioned that the Central Weather Administration predicts cumulative rainfall of at least 200 mm across Taiwan from June 6 to 12, with the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan mountainous areas, which have recently had low storage rates, potentially receiving 500 to 800 mm. The agency will make maximum efforts to divert all possible water into reservoirs during this rainfall period.

The WRA stated it will monitor the water situation daily and flexibly manage water resources through its 'Pearl String' system and regional pipeline networks. At the same time, it will implement water-saving measures such as controlling total reservoir discharge, prioritizing the use of river water and subsurface flow, encouraging industrial self-conservation and priority use of recycled water, activating drought relief wells, and adjusting tap water pressure to cope with extreme scenarios.

Water storage rates at major northern reservoirs are mostly between 60% and 90%. As of 7:00 a.m., the Xinshan Reservoir had a storage rate of 95.7%; as of 6:00 p.m., the Feitsui Reservoir was at 77.7%; as of 5:00 p.m., the Shihmen Reservoir was at 62.7%, and the Mingde Reservoir was at 76.1%. (Editor: Lin Xingmeng) 1150605