A restaurant owner uses a plastic barrel to keep water. [Photo: United Evening News]

Regions in northern Taiwan have started a new phase of water rationing to fight an ongoing drought.

The drought is the worst in 70 years. Storage capacity in the Shimen Reservoir is barely enough to support regional households for 36 days.

Taiwan started water rationing on Wednesday, including cutting off water supply in the northern cities of Taoyuan, Xinbei and Hsinchu for two days a week.

More than a million households will be affected. Restaurants, hotels and shopping centers in these regions have to take measures to cope with the crisis

A restaurant owner explains what she will do.

"I use my pot to keep water, and I store water in plastic bottles to flush the toilet."

However, hair salons, car-washing shops and swimming pools are forced to suspend services when the water supply is cut off.

It is the third phase of water rationing in the region. The first phase of water rationing started in December last year.