Zengwen Reservoir. (File photo)
[Reporter Liao Jianing/Taipei Report] In previous years, winter in the south was the dry season, and water conditions were prone to tightness. Talking about the water situation in the south this year, Director of Water Resources Lin Yuanpeng pointed out that the water supply system in the south is now different from the past. One of the key points this year is that the Zengwen-Nanhua Connected Pipe of the String of Pearls Project is officially connected. In other words, the water sent from the Nanhua Reservoir to Zengwen during the wet season this year can be flexibly dispatched during the dry period. The water situation in the south seems to be more stable this year than in the north. "I have received so many vaccines and taken a lot of supplements. Now my physical condition is different from before. I am very strong!"
Lin Yuanpeng explained that this year the Zengwen-Nanhua Unicom Pipeline has been completed, which is a big key. In the past, the Zengwen-Wusantou Reservoir System and the Nanhua Reservoir System were two separate systems, one supplying South Tainan and the other supplying North Tainan. In the past, the two reservoir systems could not be connected in series, but this year After the connection pipe is put into operation, the three reservoirs can be connected in series and coordinated flexibly. When the Nanhua Reservoir with a smaller reservoir capacity is full, it can be sent to the Zengwen Reservoir with a very large reservoir capacity for "water storage." When the three reservoirs are connected, water can be sent from Kaohsiung to Tainan during the dry season, and Tainan's water output can be reduced. In addition, during the 100-year drought and the severe drought in the south in the past few years, Kaohsiung dug more than 100 groundwater and underground water wells for drought relief. This year, the water situation in the south is expected to be stable.
Nanhua Reservoir has a smaller storage capacity, with a water storage capacity of approximately 81.81 million tons when full, while the Zengwen Reservoir system has a storage capacity of approximately 450 million tons. In addition, Nanhua Reservoir can divert water across the region through Qishan Creek. In fact, the water storage rate rebounds quickly. In the past, when Nanhua Reservoir was full, Zengwen Reservoir still had a large amount of excess water storage space.
The Zengwen-Nanhua Unicom Pipeline, which was officially opened to water this year, has a "two-way dispatching" function. That is to say, when the Nanhua Reservoir is full during the flood season, the Zengwen-Nanhua Unicom Pipeline can be dispatched to divert water from the Nanhua Reservoir to the Zengwen Reservoir with a storage capacity that is 5.5 times larger. During the dry season, when the water storage rate of the Nanhua Reservoir decreases, water can be transferred from the Zengwen Reservoir for support.
Looking at Taiwan's water situation, Lin Yuanpeng pointed out that according to the Meteorological Administration's forecast, the rainfall forecast for the coming season is "normally above normal." However, the autumn and winter rainfall is concentrated in the northern and eastern half, while the central and southern parts will enter the dry season. According to historical data, the spring rainfall in the next year of the extremely strong Holy Infant development is likely to be above normal, but in reality Rainfall is still variable. Considering the water demand for spring farming next year, the Water Resources Department has responded prudently. However, over the years, the Water Resources Department has continued to strengthen its water supply capacity through multiple drought-resistant measures such as the String of Pearls Project and the development of backup water sources. "It is much stronger than in the past." Therefore, it is "cautiously optimistic" about the future water situation.
Lin Yuanpeng added that the timing of the plum rains at the end of the dry season is already uncertain. In the past, the plum rains usually occurred in mid-May, but in recent years due to climate change, the plum rains have often been postponed to June, and there is even the possibility of no rain. Therefore, the Water Resources Department will take inventory of water sources by the end of June next year and be conservatively prepared for water supply during the dry season and next year's spring plowing. However, it is cautiously optimistic about future water conditions.
