Following heavy rains in northern Taiwan in early May, phase-three water rationing in Taoyuan and parts of New Taipei City and Hsinchu County has been suspended until at least mid-May.

Since early April, water supply to households in the affected areas has been cut off two days per week on a rotational basis. This year northern Taiwan has received its lowest rainfall levels since 1947 and reservoirs are at record lows. But the recent rains reportedly added 12 million cubic meters of water to the Shimen Reservoir, which serves much of the area that was under rationing; that volume equals 11 days of water supply. Besides this year’s low precipitation, other factors contributing to the water shortage are reservoir silting, leaky infrastructure, and cheap water prices.