"Take water from different levels" is a fundamental rule of thumb of reservoir operation. In fact, after Typhoon Nari in 2001 there was a water stoppage at Shihmen Reservoir because the raw water could not be taken due to its excessive turbidity. At the time Lin Hsin-i, minister of economic affairs, began discussions on setting up a second water outlet for Shihmen Reservoir at Pingchen.
「分層取水」是治本之道，事實上，早在民國九十年納莉風災後，石門水庫就曾因原水濁度過高無法取水而造成停水，當時經濟部長林信義便開始研議在石門水庫設置第二取水口，也就是「平鎮淨水場第二取水口工程」。