Taiwan: Presidential Candidate Pledges to Protect Water Supplies

— Presidential candidate Ma Yingjeou pledged that if elected he would take steps to protect the water supply in Taoyuan in case of typhoons. Ma's comments came at the same time that Typhoon Krosa hit Taiwan. The typhoon left the water in the Shihmen reservoir too muddy to be treated for human consumption. Ma's plan to ensure supply in the region in three years includes building new water treatment plants and stopping the use of Shihmen to irrigate rice fields in neighboring Taipei county. He said the Feitsui reservoir and others in Taipei can make up the lost irrigation water. Ma also plans to replace old mains and work to prevent siltation at Shihmen...