Water shortage eases in northern Taiwan after days of rain: agency

Taipei, Oct. 18 (CNA) At least one reservoir in northern Taiwan is now over 60 percent full, following days of rain in the region, but central and southern parts of the country are still under water conservation measures as the rainfall there has been scant, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) said Sunday.

The water level at Feitsui Reservoir in New Taipei has risen to 61.74 percent of its capacity, from 48.65 percent a week ago, according to the WRA.

While the rain in recent days has alleviated the water supply situation in northern Taiwan, areas further south are still experiencing shortages, said WRA Deputy Director-General Wang Yi-feng (王藝峰).

For example, the water level in Chiayi's Zengwen Reservoir, the largest in the country, has dropped from 32.9 percent a week ago to 31.45 percent Sunday, according to the WRA.

The conservation measure introduced last week to lower the water pressure at night in several cities and counties will continue as rainfall volumes remain low, Wang said.

For the first time since 1964, Taiwan has gotten to the month of October without being hit by a storm, in the typhoon season, Wang said.

Without the rainfall usually brought by typhoons, precipitation in the country has been lower than normal at this time of year, leading to the imposition of water restrictions as early as October for the first time, Wang said.

In western Taiwan, the rainfall recorded at several reservoirs June to September this year was 20-60 percent lower than in the same period last year, Wang said.