Taipei Water Department

　　Taipei Deputy Mayor Chang Wen-te attended the United Daily News Group policy forum “Rivers Restored: How Do We Drink a Clean Glass of Water?” on April 24, where he addressed issues including water quality safety, supply resilience, and wastewater management. Deputy Mayor Chang stated that a clean glass of water is not only a daily necessity, but also a tangible measure of a city’s governance capacity. He said the city government will continue enhancing water quality and safety through comprehensive efforts spanning source water protection, smart management, and water resource recycling.

　　Chang noted that in response to the challenges of extreme climate events, the city has integrated the resources of the Feitsui Reservoir Administration, Taipei Water Department, and Taipei Sewerage Systems Office of the Public Works Department, shifting from a one-way water supply model to a full watershed circular governance approach. As Taipei’s primary drinking water source, Feitsui Reservoir has long benefited from cross-agency watershed management and the adoption of natural farming practices to help preserve water quality. Through a full-process management framework from source to tap, the city has established multiple layers of protection covering raw water conservation, purification treatment, and pipeline monitoring. Internal control standards exceeding international benchmarks are also applied to ensure a stable and safe water supply.

　　For water distribution infrastructure, Taipei has reduced its leakage rate from nearly 27% to below 10%. Looking ahead, the city will launch a 10-year water network improvement plan, investing NT$15 billion to introduce AI and digital twin technologies to strengthen monitoring and early warning capabilities. The goal is to further lower leakage to 7%, improving system resilience and efficiency.

　　In terms of equitable access, Taipei’s tap water coverage rate has reached 99.84%. The city continues to combine engineering projects with subsidy policies to reduce residents’ financial burden and encourage household connections. In Shilin District’s Xishan and Pingdeng Boroughs, pipeline connection works are already underway, including construction of water storage tanks, booster stations, and pipeline systems. Completion is expected by the end of 2026, allowing residents in remote areas to enjoy stable and safe water services.

　　For wastewater governance, Taipei’s household sewer connection rate has exceeded 83%, the highest in Taiwan, with more than 1 million metric tons of domestic wastewater treated daily. The city continues upgrading treatment facilities by transforming existing wastewater treatment plants into water resource recovery centers, while constructing new tertiary treatment facilities in Minsheng, Binjiang, and Shezidao. Reclaimed water supply is expected to reach approximately 30,000 metric tons per day, to be used for road cleaning, irrigation, and other purposes, gradually advancing circular water resource use.

　　Chang emphasized that water governance is not only about infrastructure, but also a key pillar of sustainable urban development. Going forward, Taipei will continue upholding high standards for water quality and supply security, ensuring residents can use every drop of water with confidence amid the challenges of climate change.