因應水源短缺
In response to the growing threat of island-wide droughts and the increasing need for water in many of Taiwan’s industries, large-volume water customers are now being subject to an additional tariff as of February 1.
鑑於台灣面臨日益嚴重的全國乾旱威脅，以及眾多產業對水資源的需求日益增長，自2月1日起，用水大戶將被收取額外的耗水費。
drought (n.)乾旱volume (n.)音量、總量be subject to 必須服從、遭受tariff (n.)費用、費率、關稅
The new fee of NT$1.5 per metric ton of water will be applied during the dry season, which lasts from November to April.
每公噸水的新增費用為新台幣1.5元，將於每年11月至4月間的枯水期實施。
metric (adj.)公制的imperial (adj.)英制的
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Water Resource Agency, the average price per metric ton of water in Taiwan in 2021 was NT$9.24.
經濟部水利署表示，2021年台灣每噸的平均水費為新台幣9.24元。
ministry (n.)部agency (n.)代理機構、政府機關travel agency 旅行社CIA(the Central Intelligence Agency) 美國中央情報局
With water scarcity joining electricity, land, labor and professional talent “as one of the five shortages holding back the economy,” this “substantial” added duty is one way to address the problem.
隨著臺灣最近的缺水問題與電力、土地、勞動力和專業人才並列「阻礙經濟發展的五大短缺之一」，這筆「可觀的」額外費用是解決問題的方式之一。
scarcity (n.)缺乏、不足hold back 阻礙、限制（發展）substantial (adj.)可觀的、重大的
The tariff will be imposed on most businesses that acquire over 9,000 metric tons of water per month from the Taiwan Water Corp.
該額外費用將針對每月從台灣自來水公司購入超過9,000公噸水量的大部分企業收取。
impose (v.)推行、強制實施
However, there will be some exemptions, including schools and hospitals “as well as essential farming and livestock operations.”
然而，部分單位將免徵耗水費，包括學校、醫院，以及「必要的農業和畜牧業活動」。
exemption (n.)豁免tax exemption 免稅livestock (n.)牲畜、家畜
It is estimated that a total of 1,700 to 2,200 companies across Taiwan will be affected.
預計全臺灣將總共有1,700至2,200家公司受到影響。
estimate (v.)估計、估算
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is one of the largest consumers of water.
台灣的半導體產業是用水量最大的產業之一。
semiconductor (n.)半導體
On average, each of the approximately 80 fabs across the country uses between 7,000 and 12,000 metric tons of water per day.
全國約80家晶片製造廠，平均每天使用7,000至12,000公噸的水量。
fab (n.)晶片製造廠approximately (adv.)大約=about=around
Consequently, the nationwide extra water tariff, which is set to double in mid-2025, is expected to generate between NT$600 million and NT$1.4 billion per year.
因此，全國性的額外耗水費預計在2025年年中調漲一倍，預計每年可帶來新台幣6億至14億元的收入。
consequently (adv.)因此=as a result=therefore
However, for many large-scale water users, this added fee serves as a financial incentive to explore future alternative methods of water recycling and conservation.
然而，對許多用水大戶來說，這項額外費用將成為一個良好的財務誘因，鼓勵他們探索回收和節約水資源的替代方法。
scale (n.)規模serve as 有……效果、當作……incentive (n.)激勵、刺激、誘因tax incentive 租稅誘因incentive plan 獎勵方案alternative (adj.)可替代的conservation (n.)節約、保護energy conservation 能源節約