Taiwan has experienced its worst drought in 67 years over the last few months, but with a downpour of seasonal rain, the drought was declared finished this month.
However, severe water rationing was put in place for the duration of the drought, and compared to the rationing that Californian’s were recently upset about, it seems catastrophic.
It is interesting to note the methods used to conserve water and to keep in mind that they may indeed become the norm in the dry Western USA over the next few years.
Want China Times reports:
“In the government-adopted three-phase water rationing system, phase-one means reduced water pressure at night, phase-two calls for water supply restrictions for big users who usually consume more than 1,000 cubic meters per month, and phase-three rationing cuts the water supply to entire areas for two days a week on a rotating basis.
At the climax of the drought in early April, phase-three water rationing was implemented in parts of northern Taiwan at one point.”
Should California and other afflicted US states take note?
It is useful to consider what has worked in other places because drought management techniques vary and it’s always good to have more ideas on hand.
Intermittent water supply, Taiwan’s phase-three rationing comes with its own set of problems as noted in our International Update on Intermittent Water Supplies, October 2014, and should be only considered in the most extreme circumstances.
Demand management techniques for water utilities are an on-going and important part of your infrastructure asset management planning.
Demand Management techniques are part of Future Demand and Risk Management Planning and have particular relevance for areas in drought conditions.
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