 | ■ National
Water conserving measures in Taiwan's worst drought
面臨台灣最嚴重乾旱你該了解的省水措施
Water cuts in Kaohsiung Tue., Wed. starting May 5
高雄三階限水在五月五日展開 |
| Kaohsiung will face water restrictions every Tuesday and Wednesday as the scheduled phase-three rationing kicks in on May 5. As the flow of the Gaoping River, the city's main water supply, continues to dwindle, the water supply monitoring indicator will likely flash a "red" signal for Kaohsiung on May 4, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center. The water flow of the Gaoping River is currently pegged at 9.5 cubic meters per second, substantially lower than the average of 34.7 cubic meters. Without precipitation in the coming days, the water flow is bound to diminish further, authorities said. This will give rise to the need for the third-stage rationing, the Water Resources Agency explained. | 高雄第三階段限水在五月五日正式開始，每週二、三將停水。根據中央災害緊急應變中心的資料，因主要水源高屏溪水流量持續減少，高雄地區的水情燈號將可能在五月四日亮起「紅燈」。高屏溪堰流量目前每秒僅九點五立方公尺，與歷年同期平均每秒卅四點七立方公尺的流量相較低上許多。有關當局表示，由於未來降雨態勢仍不樂觀，水流量預期將持續減少。水利署解釋，在這樣的情形下，第三階段限水勢在必行。 |
| In the future, the government will refer to the Central Weather Bureau's data and review updates regarding the state of the water supply every Friday. If a stable 8.1-cubic-meter or more water flow exists in the Gaoping River, the water restrictions will be halted for the coming week. If the water flow remains below that threshold, the rationing will proceed as planned. | 水利署未來將參考中央氣象局所公佈的水情資訊，並在每週五更新供水的最新消息。若高屏溪水流量能穩定超過每秒八點一立方公尺，或者有更多水源注入，次週的限水措施可望暫停實施。若水流量低於此門檻，限水將照常實施。 |
| The rationing schedule reportedly drew ire from residents of Kaohsiung, who complained of the inconvenience of having no water for two consecutive days. They proposed one day of water cuts after three days of regular supply instead. An official from Taiwan Water Corporation said in response that the rationing schedule was determined after taking water storage, pressure and quality into consideration. This is the first time for phase-three rationing to be implemented in Kaohsiung as Taiwan experiences its worst drought in 67 years. | 據報導稱，限水時程引發高雄居民怨聲載道，紛紛抱怨連續兩天無水可用相當不方便，並提出應該採取供三停一的模式才對。台灣自來水公司一名官員回應道，限水時程是在考量蓄水量、水壓和供水品質後才做出決定。在台灣面臨六十七年來最嚴重乾旱之際，這也是高雄地區首次實施第三階段限水。 |
| With water restrictions looming, residents of Kaohsiung have reportedly raced to purchase plastic bins to store water. Retailers reported higher demand for large plastic bins as they sought to refill inventory. Sales of plastic bins grew 30 to 50 percent, said retailers. Apartment residents and business owners have made the most purchases. Residents living in tall apartments opt for smaller bins due to their limited storage space, however, water reservoirs in such buildings tend to have larger capacities. | 隨著限水日步步逼近，高雄居民已忙著搶購塑膠桶來儲水。因為大型塑膠桶的需求大幅增加，商家也急忙補足存貨量，並表示塑膠桶的整體銷售量成長了三至五成。透天厝住戶和營業戶為塑膠桶的最大宗買家。此外，因公寓大樓的水塔儲水量較高，且室內空間較小，住戶傾向於購買小型塑膠桶。 |
| Swimming pools around Kaohsiung are closing down in a bid to conserve water. The Grand Hi Lai Hotel will close its swimming pool on May 4 while reducing water supply to its rooms. The Grand Hotel Kaohsiung plans to close its swimming pool on the days of rationing as well. Han-Hsien International Hotel will close its sauna and swimming pool starting on May 3. | 高雄地區的游泳池也為了省水而陸續關閉。漢來大飯店將在五月四日關閉其游泳池，且全館將減壓供水。高雄圓山大飯店的游泳池也將在停水日暫停對外開放。寒軒國際大飯店五月三日起三溫暖及泳池設施也將暫停使用。 |
