I. The “Reclaimed Water Resources Development Act”, revisions of “Water Supply Act” and “Water Act” stipulate that we should consider the balance among energy, water and business development; hence, it is important to apply stringent procedures to review and audit water plan, encourage the use of reclaimed water for the industry and build a water-saving society that uses water in a circular manner.
II. To ensure that we can have better water quality from the source to tap, we need to have better conservation and governance of reservoir watershed. On the one hand, we need to prevent further sedimentation in existing reservoirs to extend the lifespan of these reservoirs; On the other hand, we need to reduce leakage rate and strengthen our ability to allocate water within the same region for stable water supply. We should also establish emergency network of wells to enhance our resilience and drought resistance.
III. To promote the use of reclaimed water and desalinated water to secure multiple water sources and encourage the use of reclaimed water as new source of industrial water in areas suffering from water shortage. At the same time, we need to use surface water and ground water in a complementary manner to ensure stable water supply within the same region, so citizens and business can enjoy stable supply and we can work towards safe and sustainable spatial development.
IV. The majority of the society has reached a consensus on reasonable adjustment of present water prices. As we work to balance water resources management, economic development, sustainable development of water business and affordable access to water, it is necessary to adjust water prices and provide more incentives for people to save water.
V. Under the influence of climate change, we need to examine the issue of water allocation and review water use of different targets. To respond to climate change, it is also necessary to promote agricultural adaptation plan, including green box payment, enhancement of food security, sustainable use of agricultural resources, revision of relevant policies and instruments, and improvement of agricultural water use efficiency. The ultimate goal is to improve our food self-sufficiency ratio.
Short-term action plan:
I. Evaluate the possibility to install hydropower facilities and photovoltaic system near ponds, fish ponds, reservoirs, detention ponds and irrigation channels and prioritize the installation of photovoltaic system with the capacity of 150MW on the water.
II. Prioritize the use of reclaimed water for new industries in areas suffering from water shortage problem.
III. Considering the importance of energy, food and environmental safety and guided by the principles to turn flood into usable water and distribution of water storage facilities, it is necessary to propose water resources risk management plan and implement the plan.
IV. Irrigation facilities are important assets for agricultural development; hence, it is necessary to improve maintenance of such facilities and cultivate water sources so we can use water resources sustainably to balance the needs of ecology, production and life.
V. The majority of the society has reached a consensus on reasonable adjustment of present water prices. It is consider necessary to adjust water prices at the right time and promote water-supply business.
Accelerating the "Shimen Reservoir Amuping Anti-Siltation Tunnel Project" and the "Wu River Niaozueitan Artificial Lake Project" to achieve the Shimen Reservoir project's anti-siltation benefits and increase the central region's water dispatch capacity ahead of schedule. Additionally, expanding the scale of the project to improve water supply for aboriginal people, remote villages, and areas without piped water aims to increase the number of beneficiaries who will not be deprived of water.
Promoting the following projects:
"Disaster Prevention and Backup Well Construction Project"
"Hyporheic Flow Water Development Project"
"Baihe Reservoir Subsequent Renewal and Improvement Project, Phase I"
"Tsengwen-Nanhua Interconnection Project"
"Hushan Reservoir Second Raw Water Pipe Project"
"Improvement of Tainan Shanshan Water Purification Plant Water Supply System Project"
"Taoyuan-Hsinchu Backup Pipeline Project"
"Feitsui reservoir Raw Water Pipe Project"
"Enhancement of the Flat Artificial Lake and Hyporheic Flow Water Project"
"Backup Pipeline Project"
It is estimated that the completion of these projects will increase the normal water supply by 424,400 tons per day and the backup water supply by 7.76 million tons per day, improving the stability of water supply and industrial development in the water supply sector. Coupled with the "Promotion of Water Resources Intelligent Management System and Water Conservation Technology," the project will enhance water resource management, incorporate technology in water production, and promote the development and upgrading of the water conservancy industry.
Promote the "Enhancement of Reservoir Catchment Conservation and Management Program" to effectively reduce siltation in domestic reservoirs, extend reservoir life, and enhance their capacity to conserve water and improve water storage quality. Promoting programs like the "Outlying Islands Water Supply Improvement Program Phase II" aims to maintain a stable water supply for outlying islands and promote the prosperity and sustainable development of the local community.
Highlights of Specific Achievements:
Northern Region:
1.Taoyuan-Hsinchu Backup Pipeline Project:
Completed in February 2021, four months ahead of schedule, the project can transfer 200,000 tons of water per day from the Shihmen Reservoir to Hsinchu, equivalent to 40% of the water consumption in the Hsinchu area. During the 2021 mega-drought, the most severe in 100 years, the amount of water transferred was about 23 million tons, roughly 0.6 times the Second Baoshan Reservoir's water storage capacity.
In the first half of 2023, during poor water conditions, timely support from the Taoyuan-Hsinchu backup pipeline and backup wells saved the Baoshan and Second Baoshan reservoirs from the risk of being empty in April due to continued poor rainfall.
2. Amu-Ping Siltation Control Tunnel Project of Shihmen Reservoir:
Completed on February 13, 2023, the project increases the siltation control capacity of Shimen Reservoir by 640,000 cubic meters per year on average. It extends the reservoir's life and increases flood discharge capacity by 600 cubic meters per second, ensuring dam safety. In September 2022, 200,000 cubic meters of scouring tests were completed ahead of schedule during Typhoon Hinnamnor.
On September 4, 2023, the first official flushing operation was initiated, discharging 200,000 cubic meters of silt. The estimated annual saving of public funds is about $300 million.
Central Region:
Niaozueitan Artificial Lake Project of Wu River:
Using surface water as an alternative source to reduce groundwater extraction in the Changhua area, alleviating subsidence conditions in the geological strata, the first stage of water supply began at the end of 2022. It stores an additional 40,000 tons of water per day in the Deji and Liyutan reservoirs, creating a beautiful local waterscape as well.
Southern Region:
1.Hyporheic flow Development Project:
In the southern region, when the flow rate of the Gaoping River decreased to 8.9 cms in 2016, partitioned water rationing was declared. However, due to the utilization of subsurface flow from the Gaoping River, coupled with the activation of disaster-prevention backup wells, in 2023, with the Gaoping River flow rate remaining the same as in 2016, the stable water supply is still maintained, avoiding the need for partitioned water rationing. This indicates the effectiveness of water resource development.
During the impact of Typhoon Doksuri and Typhoon Khanun in the year 2023, the turbidity of the raw water in the Gaoping River reached 50,000 NTU, more than a hundred times higher than usual. The Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, which activated the hyporheic flow from the Gaoping River, provided a backup water source, effectively stabilizing the water supply for Kaohsiung.
2.Tsengwen-Nanhua Interconnecting Pipeline Project:
Efforts are underway to establish the Tsengwen Reservoir as direct support for supplying the Nanhua Water Treatment Plant and reinforcing the backup water transmission capacity of the Nanhua and Gaoping interconnection pipelines. Anticipated to be completed and operational by the year 2024, with a scheduled daily dispatching capacity of 800,000 tons, this project is an integral part of the String of Pearls initiative. It facilitates collaborative water usage between Tainan and Kaohsiung, allowing for the joint utilization of water sources. During periods of abundant water, the overflow from the Nanhua Reservoir can be redirected and stored in the Wushantou Reservoir, enabling mutual support and complementarity between the reservoirs, thus realizing the synergistic effect of 1+1>2.