台湾、給水制限強化　半世紀で最も深刻な干ばつ

【台北ＡＦＰ＝時事】過去56年で最も深刻な干ばつに見舞われている台湾中部の工業地帯で6日、100万以上の世帯と事業者を対象とした給水制限が始まった。（写真は流量が減り川底が露出した、台湾・屏東県の隘寮渓）
　干ばつは、大量の水を必要とする半導体産業に特に大きな影響を与えるとみられている。車から携帯電話、パソコンなどあらゆる製品に用いられる半導体は現在、世界的に不足している。
　台湾では２月に厳格な給水制限が導入され、中部と南部の一部の工場や工業地帯は、水の使用量を最大１５％減らした操業を強いられている。
　公共水道会社は６日以降、台中市と苗栗市、彰化県北部で週に２日の断水を実施。さらに政府は同社に対し「最悪の事態に備える」べきと警告している。
　給水制限日には、美容院での洗髪やガソリンスタンドでの洗車の禁止など、さまざまな制限が課される。
　台湾では昨年、過去５６年で初めて台風が一度も上陸せず、今年に入っても水不足が続いている。
　台湾の半導体業界は世界最高峰の規模と技術力を誇る。半導体不足に直面する欧米の自動車メーカーは、台湾政府に対し支援を要請してきた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/04/07-13:33）

More than one million households and businesses in Taiwan's heavily industrialised central regions were put on water rationing Tuesday, as the island battles its worst drought in 56 years.
The shortage is expected to particularly impact the water-intensive microchip manufacturing sector during a global shortage of semiconductors that power everything from cars to iPhones and computers.
The state water company is now cutting supplies in Taichung, Miaoli and northern Changhua county for two days a week, with the government warning it must prepare for the worst.
On rationing days, various restrictions are in place, including no shampoo treatments at hair salons and no car washes at gas stations.
The dry spell comes after no typhoons made landfall in Taiwan last year for the first time in 56 years.
In southern Tainan city, water levels at the island's largest reservoir Tsengwen were less than 12 percent, while the Baihe reservoir was completely dry, according to the Water Resources Agency.
The worsening water shortage could hamper the island's plan to plug worldwide, pandemic-driven microchip shortages by ramping up production.
Taiwanese high-tech chip foundries are some of the world's biggest and most advanced, and European and American car manufacturers have been reaching out to Taipei for help.
Tougher restrictions imposed from February have seen factories and industrial zones forced to slash water usage by up to 15 percent in some central and southern parts of the island.
Two major science parks in central Taichung city where much of the high-tech businesses are located are not subject to rationing, officials said.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract microchip maker, has initiated measures like reducing water usage and trucking in water for some facilities.
Taichung city mayor Lu Shiow-yen said Tuesday that the government will prioritise water supplies to schools, medical centres and social welfare facilities.
If there is no monsoon or typhoon coming, water rationing will have to continue or expand and we will have to take further responsive measures, she said at a city government meeting.
Taiwan last imposed water rationing in 2015 until heavy rains brought by a typhoon eased the drought.