Taiwan/China Water: July 9, 2008: Kinmen wants to buy water from China.

Will wonders never cease? To anyone who knows the history of China and Kinmen island, for this idea to have come this far is incredible news.

Peter Huston
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MOEA to assess water supply plans from China to Kinmen

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said yesterday that it is scheduled to submit an assessment at the end of this month on supplying the outlying island of Kinmen with water from China.

But Chen Shen-hsien, director of the Water Resources Agency (WRA) under the MOEA, said the Mainland Affairs Council -- the nation's top China policy coordination agency -- and the Executive Yuan will make the final decision on the matter.

The Kinmen county government has repeatedly asked the central government to agree to buying water from Xiamen in Fujian Province to help it address the problem of poor water quality in Kinmen's reservoirs.

The WRA conducted an assessment of buying water from China as early as 2001, but the political environment under the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party administration of that time did not allow it.

WRA officials said Kinmen's own water resources can supply around 28,000 tons of water daily, exceeding the demand of 21,000 tons. After a planned desalination plant is completed, the daily water supply could be increased to 36,000 tons. which is expected to satisfy demand until 2021.

The desire for water from China is "not because of a water shortage, but due to the poor quality of Kinmen's water," the officials added.

According to the assessment, one possible option would be for China to lay a 26-km undersea pipe to Kinmen. Taiwan would only be responsible for laying water delivery pipes and purification treatment facilities on Kinmen itself.

WRC Director Chen Shen hsien said the matter involves a wide range of aspects and that laying an undersea pipe would raise security concerns. Cost efficiency would also have to be taken into consideration, he noted.

"What's more important is that China would have full control of whether to provide the water and the government has to consider this matter cautiously," he added.

Copyright © 2008 The China Post.
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