{"id":220083,"date":"2021-04-06T11:59:37","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T08:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/taiwan-imposes-water-rationing-as-drought-worsens\/"},"modified":"2021-04-06T11:59:37","modified_gmt":"2021-04-06T08:59:37","slug":"taiwan-imposes-water-rationing-as-drought-worsens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/taiwan-imposes-water-rationing-as-drought-worsens\/","title":{"rendered":"#Taiwan imposes water rationing as drought worsens"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Taiwan imposes water rationing as drought worsens<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\"Taiwan
\n Taiwan is experiencing a dry spell after no typhoons made landfall on the island last year for the first time in 56 years
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More than one million households and businesses in Taiwan’s heavily industrialised central regions were put on water rationing Tuesday, as the island battles its worst drought in 56 years.<\/p>\n


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The shortage is expected to particularly impact the water-intensive microchip manufacturing sector during a global shortage of semiconductors that power everything from cars to iPhones and computers.<\/p>\n

The state water company is now cutting supplies in Taichung, Miaoli and northern Changhua county for two days a week, with the government warning it must “prepare for the worst”. <\/p>\n

On rationing days, various restrictions are in place, including no shampoo treatments at hair salons and no car washes at gas stations.<\/p>\n

The dry spell comes after no typhoons made landfall in Taiwan last year for the first time in 56 years.<\/p>\n

In southern Tainan city, water levels at the island’s largest reservoir Tsengwen were less than 12 percent, while the Baihe reservoir was completely dry, according to the Water Resources Agency. <\/p>\n

The worsening water shortage could hamper the island’s plan to plug worldwide, pandemic-driven microchip shortages by ramping up production. <\/p>\n

Taiwanese high-tech chip foundries are some of the world’s biggest and most advanced, and European and American car manufacturers have been reaching out to Taipei for help. <\/p>\n

Tougher restrictions imposed from February have seen factories and industrial zones forced to slash water usage by up to 15 percent in some central and southern parts of the island. <\/p>\n

Two major science<\/a> parks in central Taichung city where much of the high-tech businesses are located are not subject to rationing, officials said.<\/p>\n

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract microchip maker, has initiated measures like reducing water usage and trucking in water for some facilities.<\/p>\n

Taichung city mayor Lu Shiow-yen said Tuesday that the government will prioritise water supplies to schools, medical centres and social<\/a> welfare facilities. <\/p>\n

“If there is no monsoon or typhoon coming, water rationing will have to continue or expand and we will have to take further responsive measures,” she said at a city government meeting. <\/p>\n

Taiwan last imposed water rationing in 2015 until heavy rains brought by a typhoon eased the drought.<\/p>\n\n

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Drought hits Taiwan drive to plug global chip shortage<\/a>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \u00a9 2021 AFP<\/p>\n

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Citation<\/strong>:
\n Taiwan imposes water rationing as drought worsens (2021, April 6)
\n retrieved 6 April 2021
\n from https:\/\/phys.org\/news<\/a>\/2021-04-taiwan-imposes-rationing-drought-worsens.html<\/p>\n

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