ditorial abstract (File 4 of a daily roundup)

Responding to a series of reports on the rundown state of major reservoirs in central and southern Taiwan, the government called a “small-scale national security meeting” last Saturday to plot action plans.

The brainstorming session came to two conclusions: dredging silt and mud from the reservoirs and advising individuals and corporations to save water.

If the government believes such measures alone are sufficient to resolve Taiwan’s water issue, it has overlooked the gravity of the country’s water woes. In the long run, tens of billions of dollars spent on those measures will turn out to be a waste of public funds.

For years, the government has paid little attention to water conservation and supply issues. Every time the country faces the threat of drought, the government tends to map out temporary relief measures but has never tried to plot forward-looking and long-term strategies that can resolve the increasingly serious warter shortage problems once and for all.

At best, the measures initiated at the recent “national security meeting” are only aimed at combatting the threat of an imminent water shortage this spring.

We are worried, however, that the government’s passive and shortsighted working style will miss any possible opportunity to truly resolve the issue and may even worsen the situation.

To address water supply problems, the government should preserve water resources while reducing consumption and encouraging recycling.

The government should study how to raise the utilization rate of each water source, including preserving rainwater, and review current water distribution ratios among agricultural, household and industrial users and related management systems. Equally important is water recycling to increase supplies.

As most of Taiwan’s reservoirs are located in mountain regions at medium elevation, management of their catchment areas is extremely important to sustain their life spans. (By Sofia Wu)

More Info: http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=175091&CtNode=39