Insufficient precipitation this spring has already forced northern Taiwan to undergo mandatory water rationing. But if rainfalls in the coming weeks still fail to reach the expected levels, the government admits that it may have to enforce even more strict limitations on water use.

Without rain to fill the reservoirs, more and tougher measures to ration water may be needed.

In the north of Taichung, besides the Feitsui Water Reservoir, the water storage rate in others is below 50 percent.

To provide enough water for the Hsinchu Science Park, the Water Resources Agency has displaced water of Miaoli and Taoyuan to support Hsinchu.

If the plum rain season still doesn't come by the end of May, the second phase of water rationing measures may be implemented.

The first phase of cutting pressure of water supply during night time is carried out in north of Taichung, including Baiciao, Hsindien, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli and Changhua.

Ministry of Economic Affairs's anti-drought task force would meet again on the 20th of April to discuss other available measures.

The Water Resources Agency has introduced a program to recycle waste water for industrial use.

If the trial program works well in Taichung, it will be expanded into other areas.