Among the measures taken by TSMC to combat the effects of the unprecedented drought in Taiwan, the construction of a new water conduit, the purchase of water by tanks and the construction of a desalination station have already been mentioned. In the south of the island, construction has also begun on an industrial water treatment plant that can then be reused for the production of semiconductor components.

TSMC already reuses about 86% of its water consumption, but only a small part of it is directly suitable for processing silicon wafers. As the Nikkei Asian Review notes, the company is committed to addressing this injustice by starting construction of a new waste water treatment plant in southern Taiwan. The enterprise will be put into operation at the end of this year, it will serve exclusively the needs of TSMC. In Tainan, where the plant will be built, 5nm components are already being manufactured, so having enough water is important to keep the supply of products to customers uninterrupted.

By 2024, according to TSMC representatives, the enterprise will be able to return to circulation up to 67 thousand tons of water every day, which will be used in the processing of silicon wafers. Now TSMC consumes up to 156 thousand tons of water daily, so the new treatment plants will make a significant contribution to reducing the company’s dependence on the water supply network. Last year’s drought has depleted water supplies in parts of Taiwan so much that authorities have cut off supplies to local farmers’ plantations, and this year’s residential and industrial areas are supplied with water at intervals of two days a week. These restrictions are planned to be lifted only by the end of May, when the monsoons will bring long-awaited moisture. TSMC has so far noted that water supply interruptions have not had a significant impact on the company’s operations.