In response to climate change and to increase the adaptability of water supply, the government has been pushing for the construction of diversified water resources since 2017 through strategies such as broadening water sources, water saving, allocation, and backup to enhance the capacity and resilience of water supply in various regions. To date, the government has completed various construction projects, including reservoirs, artificial lakes, hyporheic flow water, inter-regional water allocation lines, reclaimed water, and water leakage reduction. This cumulative increase in water supply resulting in a cumulative increase in public water consumption of 20% nationwide.. It was a blessing that the relevant work was carried out in advance and played a key role in providing drought relief during the 100-year drought between 2020 and 2021, which allowed Taiwan to overcome the drought crisis.
With the increasing climate change in recent years, the socio-economic environment is changing rapidly. Taiwan has already assessed the successful experience of the drought in 2020-2021 and has taken into consideration the problems of water resources to be improved and the measures to be taken. In August 2021, the “Basic Plan for Water Resources Management in Every Region of Taiwan” was approved, strengthening the three main strategies outlined in the plan: “Overall Management of the River Basin”, “Development of the Western Corridor Water Supply Network”, and “Enhancement of Water Production by Technology” to enhance the water supply capacity and resilience of all regions in Taiwan and ensure stable water supply until 2036.
The strategy of "Overall Management of the River Basin" encompasses a range of initiatives aimed at sustainable water resource utilization within a specific river basin or watershed. These initiatives include conservation efforts in catchment areas, expansion of reservoir dredging, establishment of artificial lakes, and promotion of hyporheic flow development. In Central Taiwan, Niaozueitan artificial lake was completed in 2023, and a number of hyporheic flow sources are being developed at suitable locations throughout the country. Through the development of diversified water sources, it is hoped that the storage and utilization of natural water resources can be enhanced.
The “Development of the Western Corridor Water Supply Network” is a water supply network cascade project in response to the uneven rainfall across Taiwan. A number of inter-regional water allocation line projects are currently under construction in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. In the future, the inter-regional water allocation support capacity can be further strengthened to allow more flexible use of water resources.
The main purpose of the "Enhancement of Water Production by Technology" is to promote the utilization of reclaimed water and desalinated seawater as alternative water sources that are not dependent on rainfall, in order to increase the insured water source during the dry season. Of the 16 reclaimed water plants planned to be constructed in northern, central, and southern Taiwan are being developed and will be able to provide 628,100 tons of water per day upon completion. Furthermore, Taiwan is actively promoting the construction of seawater desalination plants, with the Hsinchu seawater desalination plant producing 100,000 tons of water per day and the Tainan seawater desalination plant producing 200,000 tons of water per day, in anticipation of increasing the number of guaranteed water sources during the dry season to enhance the stability of water supply.
The Multiple water sources are introduced as follows：
1.Hyporheic Flow Water: It exists in the permeable layer below the riverbed, and the cleaned raw water can be obtained through gravel layer filtration. This water source can meet regional water demand and reduce the risk of water shortage. To date, the government has completed multiple hyporheic flow water construction projects. This cumulative increase in water supply of 1.39 million tons per day equates to an increase in public water consumption of 13% across the country.
2.Seawater Desalination: In order to cope with the impact of climate change, strengthen the resilience of water supply, and reduce dependence on rainfall, the government has listed seawater desalination as one of the important water resource strategies in Taiwan. Since 1989, Taiwan has successively built 24 seawater desalination plants in Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other areas, with a total water output of 43,000 tons per day. Following the severe drought in 2021, the government accelerated its desalination plant plan and identified a total of 6 feasible plant sites from north to south on Taiwan's main island. It prioritized the advancement of 100,000-ton desalination plant projects in Hsinchu and Tainan
3.Reclaimed Water: In order to enhance the water supply resilience, after the severe drought of the century, reclaimed water has become a focal point in government efforts for water supply technology. Since the reclaimed water mostly originates from domestic wastewater, it offers the advantage of a stable water source. Thus the use of reclaimed water is a win-win strategy for the technology industry, providing stable production capacity and sustainable utilization of resources. Since 2013, the National Land Management Agency has been implementing the development of reclaimed water plants in collaboration with the Water Resources Agency, the supervisory authority in industrial parks (Bureau of Industrial Parks and the National Science and Technology Council), and local governments such as Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung Cities. The Executive Yuan has approved the promotion of 19 reclaimed water plants in Taiwan. These plants are expected to increase the daily water supply by 628,100 tons, thereby reducing dependence on rainfall and enhancing water supply stability.