China has agreed to provide the Taiwan-administered island of Kinmen with water.
Water companies from Mainland China and Kinmen signed a 30-year agreement that will see water from the Mainland sent via pipeline for consumption on Kinmen. China could begin sending water to the island in 2017. Kinmen is located off China’s southeastern coast.
Economics Vice Minister Yang Wei-fu says the total cost of the plan is NT$1.35 billion (US$43.4 million). The central government will cover 85% of the cost, with Kinmen County covering the remaining 15%. Yang says the quality of the incoming water will have to pass the strictest standards.
"The water that Kinmen uses now is supplied locally," Yang said. "In the future, even if something happens to the water coming from China -we’re not talking about problems with the quality, we’re talking about water leakage, broken pipes or situations due to typhoons- Kinmen will be able to provide its own water immediately, at least about 70% of the water needed."
The agreement is the result of 20 years of talks. After completion of an undersea pipeline, China will be providing Kinmen with 15,000 tons of water per day. After the 10th year, supply will increase to 34,000 tons per day.