Residents of permanent houses in Shanlin Daai Park have been shut down for nearly 80 hours. Ten years after the storm, they become refugees again.

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Just two months after the 10th anniversary of Typhoon Morakot, victims of dramatic changes are struggling to move forward. Unexpectedly, residents of permanent housing in the Tai-ai Park in Kaohsiung City's Shanlin District often have to face the dilemma of no water.

Residents complain that in the eight or nine years they have lived in permanent housing, there will be no water supply for two or three months, or six months without warning. They can endure it for half a day or one day, and they are gradually getting used to it. However, this water cut is very exaggerated. From the late night of October 20 to the late night of October 23, the whole love park is either cut off water, or the water flow is as small as a finger, or the tap water turns black, and even there is a smell of rust.

The seventh management office of the Taiwan Water Company explained that insufficient water supply, damage to the pressure motor at the Dalin pressure station, and a broken pipe for replenishing raw water were all causes of the water cut. After emergency repair, on the morning of October 24, the tap water has slowly returned to normal.

Chi Xingfang, a resident, said that the problem of water cut-off had dragged on for so long that it had driven people crazy. Although it had been solved this time, he did not know when it would happen again next time. Most homes will have a water tower on the roof, but the Da Ai Park is limited by the agreement signed at the time of occupancy, which clearly states that the appearance of the permanent house cannot be changed. In addition, the roof is not paved with concrete, so it cannot bear the weight of the water tower. She says with a wry smile,"We try hard to rebuild our lives, so as not to be regarded as victims by the outside world, but now we often become refugees without water."

The water supply is really fatal. The more clothes are washed, the darker the residents are. The elderly and children are the most vulnerable.

There are 1004 permanent homes in the Great Love Park in Sugarlin, which is a narrow residential area sloping northeast to southwest. Because the residents in the northeast are located in high places, this area will always be the first to stop water and the last to recover water.

Mrs. Wang, a resident, said that she was most afraid of stopping water supply, because once there was no water supply, life almost stopped, and it was even more troublesome to wash vegetables, cook, wash and go to the toilet. "Although the water company has set up a temporary water station for everyone to carry water, I see some elderly people living alone or children whose parents haven't come home from work. What should they do?"

Chi Xingfang, a resident with the title of the most enthusiastic mother in the community, found that during the day on Sunday, October 20, the tap water began to get smaller and smaller and then stopped; on the afternoon of October 21, the water company urgently set up two temporary water stations, but within an hour, the water was lifted; on October 22, residents continued to carry water to live, but those who came home from work at night could not get water at all.

The residents of Sugi Forest went to the temporary water supply station to get water. (Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung City Councillor Chen Xingfu)

Chi Xingfang, a resident, explained to the staff of the water company the correlation between the elevation of the terrain of the Daai Park and the water supply. (Photo: Li Huiyi) Water company replies "everything is normal" residents crazy

During the day on October 23, tap water gradually recovered, but the flow was small, some household taps also flowed black water, impurities in the water were like fine sand, smelling rusty. Resident Mrs. Yang did not pay much attention, as soon as heard the water happy to use the washing machine immediately, did not expect two hours later opened the lid, light, white clothes all turned black, and her face was green!

Patience to the fourth day, residents began to curse on social networking sites, but also called Kaohsiung City government "1999" for help, but there was no following; Later, residents simply went directly to the water company service line "1910"(service on the spirit), did not expect customer service inquiry unexpectedly replied,"water supply normal, no one reported problems, everything is normal." Residents say this answer is more irritating than stopping water!

Complex reasons for water cut-off A problem in one place, the park will stop water supply, the water company is on the verge of an enemy

In fact, on October 23, Wu Qingquan, Deputy Director of the Seventh Management Office of the Water Supply Company, personally went to Daai Park to visit the local mayor and councilors, and made a commitment to the water supply problem. (1) a comprehensive survey of water supply lines;(2) the selection of four additional water storage facilities in the daai park; and (3) the selection and training of a staff member responsible for operating the water storage facilities.

Huang Ming-chiu, director of the Chishan Operations Office, explains that several factors combined to cause the water cut. First, there is insufficient water supply; second, the Dalin pressurizing station, which supplies water to the Tai Ai Park, is at the end of the waterway, and once the water supply is insufficient, the water cannot be delivered to the tail end; third, the pressurizing motor of the pressurizing station is damaged; and finally, when the motor is removed, the pipe for raw water replenishment breaks.

Finally, after days of accelerated repair by the water company, the tap water finally returned to normal water supply on the morning of October 24, and residents happily shared it on Facebook. Some people wrote,"Finally a big wash," while others exaggerated,"The water pressure can shoot through the wall."