Taiwan’s water technology was mainly learned from Europe, the United States, Japan and other advanced countries at beginning. However, the unique geographical environment makes Taiwan face the challenge of natural disasters often. As a result, Taiwan has developed a number of leading global technologies in the sustainable reservoirs, flood control and disaster prevention technologies. The Water Resources Agency has recently been invited to international conferences to share experiences in water technology. It shows that Taiwan’s water technology has evolved from technology input to cooperation and output. The WRA is willing to share our experiences to other countries to enhance a better globe water environment.
- Agreement and Arrangement
- The Agreement between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) for Technical Assistance in Areas of Water Resources Development
The technical assistance and cooperation for water resources program was established in the 1980s. Various water resources projects have since been carried out and executed through U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Taiwan WRA. Years of collaboration have produced fruitful results and have proven beneficial to both sides in dealing with challenges facing the sustainable use of limited water resources.
Appendix 6 and 8 of the 1987 Agreement are currently active. Ongoing activities under Appendix 8 address sedimentation and watershed management issues. These reimbursable activities have produced significant benefits for Reclamation and WRA in areas such as sediment modeling and experience with reservoir-sediment sluicing options. Through Appendix 6 Reclamation provides technical assistance relating to the design and construction of dams and dam-safety issues in Taiwan, which builds on and reinforces existing expertise for both sides.
- The Arrangement between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States for Technical Cooperation in the areas of Integrated Water Resources Management
The Water Resources Agency (WRA) has been collaborating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for over 15 years. Both parties have established a strong foundation of cooperation in areas such as hydrological modeling, dam safety management, climate change adaptation, water environment, and ecology. In March 2023, a delegation from the USACE visited Taiwan, and during their visit, they engaged in discussions with the WRA on topics including “Engineering with Nature,” “Critical Infrastructure Protection,” and “Climate Change Adaptation.” This collaborative agreement, the result of seven years of discussions and negotiations between Taiwan and the United States, was formally signed on May 15, 2023, by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Specific areas of collaboration outlined in the agreement include dam and levee engineering and safety, climate change impact analysis, watershed system analysis, environmental benefit assessment, ecological system restoration science, water governance policies, sustainable development, and comprehensive water resources management. The collaboration modes include information exchange, training, and technology sharing, as well as the sharing of best practices and experiences. Both parties will continue to explore future collaborative projects based on this agreement.
- Water Resources Agency International Expert Advisory Team
The Water Resources Agency established the International Expert Advisory Team in 2022 in order to better grasp international water resources trends. The Team’s original mission was to optimize and improve Taiwan’s water resources management work, by relying on the academic knowledge and practical experience of the expert advisors on the team. In 2023, Director-General Lai convened and led 2 conferences between supervisors at the Water Resources Agency and 4 international advisors. The advisors shared how the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan responded to drought, and also provided suggestions for Taiwan’s future plans on managing its water resources, working together with the Agency to help solve international water resources issues.
- Taiwan International Water Week
- The theme for the 2022 Taiwan International Water Week International Forum was Innovative Water Strategy under Green Sustainability. In particular, the Water Leaders Summit invited international experts and academics to jointly discuss the value of water, as well as measures and strategic directions for responding to the effects of climate change. Additionally, 12 other forums on environmental, economic, technological, and cultural issues were held. More than one hundred domestic and foreign speakers, including over 55 foreign speakers, presented at the conference through combined in-person and online methods, with these forums also being streamed online.
- The 2022 Taiwan International Water Week International Forum used green sustainability as a starting point to discuss and plan innovative, forward-looking, and comprehensive water strategies, looking at these issues from the perspective of new and environmentally-friendly philosophies. Through reducing demand, increasing efficiency, recycling and reusing, collaboration, innovative usage methods, and environmental sustainability, we can ensure sufficient water resources for us and for our next generation, creating a water environment where we can coexist with our water resources.
- Technical Exchanges Annual Program
- Technical Exchange Collaboration with Japan’s River Front Research Center (RFC)
The Water Resources Agency has been collaborating with the River Front Research Center for over 20 years. Climate change has caused Japan to experience unprecedented levels of catastrophic rainfall. During Taiwan’s International Water Week the previous year (2022), both sides agreed to jointly hold a forum on Prevention and Adaptation Strategies for Floods Caused by Climate Change. The Research Center’s lead engineer Hiroshi Fumoto was invited to present the Comprehensive Measures for Stakeholders of Japan’s Drainage Basins, while Associate Professor Kentaro Taki from the University of Shiga Prefecture presented a talk on Floodplain Risk Management. These speakers participated in exchanges with our own experts, discussing in-depth various flood management and disaster prevention strategies for issues related to climate change.
- Technical Exchange Workshop with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
The Water Resources Agency began holding close technical exchanges with the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 2016. In 2023, the Agency invited expert teams from the Corps to visit Taiwan for a technical exchange, holding the Engineering with Nature technical exchange forum. Considering that Taiwan has in recent years started promoting nature-based solutions (Nbs) for flood prevention, and that the United States has long been implementing engineering solutions for water resources management that seek to coexist with nature, the Agency hoped to learn how to balance its water management engineering projects with the preservation of natural ecosystems through this mutual exchange, as well as share Taiwan’s nature-based flood prevention strategies implemented in response to climate change. This exchange would enable both side to continue exchanging experiences and collaborating on water resources management.
- Taiwan-Netherlands Water Working Group
In recent years, Taiwan’s Water Resources Agency (WRA) and the Netherlands Office Taipei have promoted mutual collaboration in the fields of water resources and disaster mitigation on the basis of “Taiwan-Netherlands Water Working Group.” In 2021, several conferences were held, including the “Technical Exchanges on Nature-based Solutions in Climate Change,” “Online Reservoir Dredging Technology Exchange Session,” and “Taiwan- Netherlands Water Business Dialogue.” In 2022, the WRA and the Netherlands Office Taipei held the “Taiwan-Netherlands Water Conference – Smart Irrigation” during Taiwan International Water Week and invited experts in agriculture and water resources from both countries to share their know-how and experience to promote smart irrigation technology.
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Water Resources Program Annual Meeting and Appendix 6 and 8 technical exchange
Each year, the Water Resources Agency holds technical exchange conferences or training programs with the United States Bureau of Reclamation under the framework of the TECRO-AIT Technical Assistance in Areas of Water Resources Development Agreement. The areas of collaboration between these two parties provided in Appendix No. 6 of the Agreement includes technical exchanges and consultation on water resources management engineering technologies and dam safety management technologies. The areas of collaboration provided in Appendix No. 8 includes management of drainage basins, management of river sediment, and analysis of potential disaster risks.
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) — A Seminar on Technologies in Water Resources Engineer
The Water Resources Agency also collaborates with the Chinese Institute of Engineers and Asian Development Bank (ADB) each year, holding conferences for exchanging knowledge. In 2022, the Agency’s employees participated online in the Asian Development Bank’s themed talks, sharing the Agency’s experience on reservoir dredging and flood prevention technology.