A Framework for Assessing Water Availability and Risk of Reservoirs in Taiwan under Climate Change

Taiwan plays a crucial role in the global supply chain as a major semiconductor manufacturer. Semiconductor production depends heavily on water resources, making the stable supply of industrial water from upstream reservoirs essential to maintaining the global supply chain. However, international water risk assessments often fail to capture Taiwan’s regional hydrological variations due to their large spatial scale, obscuring the real physical and financial risks related to water resources under climate change. Given Taiwan's distinct climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons, short and fast-flowing rivers, and limited surface water retention, reservoirs are critical for regulating water supply. This study employs hydrological models and reservoir operational models to develop a reservoir risk assessment framework, which is the foundation of water resource management. The assessment procedure aids in understanding regional climate-related water risks. Utilizing this assessment tool to adjust reservoir operations will offer strategies for rational water resource management and enhanced climate resilience.