Taipei Water Department

The Taipei Water Department has long been dedicated to sustainable development, making substantial progress toward a net-zero future. In response to climate change and the global net-zero emissions initiative, the Taipei Water Department successfully obtained the 2023 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory External Verification Statement in 2025, marking a major milestone in its environmental commitment. Today (March 19), the Taipei Water Department hosted the “Interim Symposium on Organizational Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Verification and Engineering Carbon Footprint Strategies and Management” at the Howard Civil Service International House. During the event, SGS Taiwan Director Hsieh Chen-tao presented the certification to Taipei Water Department Deputy Commissioner Chen Ming-chou and his team. As the advisory organization, the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Industry Sustainable Development Center was represented at the event by its Director, Professor Lo Wei-cheng, who joined in recognizing the Taipei Water Department’s dedication to greenhouse gas inventory efforts and carbon reduction achievements.

The Taipei Water Department emphasized its ongoing commitment to energy conservation and carbon reduction, fulfilling its corporate social responsibility with tangible results. Since 2005, the Taipei Water Department has been implementing a 20-year "Water Supply Network Improvement and Management Plan," successfully reducing the leakage rate from 26.99% in 2005 to 10.71% in 2023. This improvement translates to a daily reduction of approximately 570,000 metric tons of distributed water, equivalent to saving 60% of Feitsui Reservoir’s annual capacity. These efforts have significantly alleviated the impact of climate change on water supply shortages. Additionally, the Taipei Water Department has enhanced pumping station efficiency, reducing daily electricity consumption by approximately 178,000 kWh, thereby achieving remarkable energy-saving and carbon reduction results. In recent years, the Taipei Water Department has continued to advance its renewable energy initiatives and greenhouse gas inventory efforts, refining its carbon reduction strategies. It established the EMS Committee in 2007 and the ESG Committee in 2023, formulating sustainability policies in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These efforts have led to enhanced water resource efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and lower emissions. As a result, the Taipei Water Department reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from fuel and electricity consumption by 42,257 metric tons (a 46% reduction) in 2023 compared to 2005, an amount equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 109 Daan Forest Parks. The Taipei Water Department has successfully achieved its 2030 carbon reduction target (40%) ahead of schedule, demonstrating remarkable environmental performance. In recognition of its long-term efforts, the Taipei Water Department was honored with the Most Inspiring Category under the International Water Association's (IWA) 2024 Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Program. This prestigious award acknowledges the Taipei Water Department’s excellence in climate adaptation, emission reduction and leadership in sustainable water management.

To align with the Taipei City Self-Government Ordinance for the Management of Net-Zero Emissions, which took effect on January 22, 2025, the Taipei Water Department has actively enhanced its greenhouse gas inventory processes under the guidance of the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Industry Sustainable Development Center. Between September and November 2024, the Taipei Water Department conducted a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory assessment in accordance with the ISO 14064-1:2018 standard, covering Categories 1 through 6, successfully completing the greenhouse gas inventory for 2023. By leveraging a cloud-based computing platform for carbon emission calculations, the Taipei Water Department has streamlined data collection, significantly improving efficiency and accuracy compared to conventional inventory methods. This technological advancement enhances the Taipei Water Department’s understanding of its greenhouse gas emissions, providing critical baseline data for the implementation of future carbon reduction initiatives. Additionally, the Taipei Water Department has established a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory management system, strengthening internal auditing procedures to ensure the accuracy, transparency and reliability of external verifications.

The Taipei Water Department stated that its mission is to provide high-quality, sufficient water supply services that ensure customer satisfaction while striving to make Taipei a livable city with sustainable water resources. In alignment with Taiwan’s national 2050 net-zero carbon strategy, the Taipei Water Department remains committed to achieving energy conservation and carbon reduction goals as part of its broader sustainability strategy. The recent GHG inventory verification process covered both the Taipei Water Department headquarters and its Engineering Agency, encompassing a workforce of over 1,000 employees. The headquarters verification included the Taipei Water Park, five regional service branches, five water purification plants, 112 booster stations and 21 administrative units, while the Engineering Agency verification extended to five public works offices and seven administrative units. Spanning over a month, the verification process was conducted by SGS, which mobilized external auditors to carry out a rigorous assessment to ensure compliance with strict verification standards. The Taipei Water Department successfully passed all verification requirements, reinforcing its commitment to accurate and transparent greenhouse gas reporting. The final audit results revealed that total emissions from Categories 1 to 6 amounted to 94,463 tCO₂e, with Category 1 and Category 2 emissions totaling 49,499 tCO₂e. Among these, direct greenhouse gas emissions under Category 1 accounted for 0.74%, while energy-related indirect emissions under Category 2 constituted 51.66%, and other indirect emissions from Categories 3 to 6 made up the remaining 47.60%. Looking ahead, the Taipei Water Department will continue to refine its carbon reduction initiatives. Its 2024 external GHG inventory assessment is scheduled for the second half of the year, ensuring ongoing progress toward sustainability and emissions reduction goals.

The Taipei Water Department further emphasized its commitment to developing carbon reduction mechanisms in engineering projects. To advance this goal, today's symposium featured Director Tseng Chung-min, Director of the Department of Technology, Public Construction Commission, Deputy Director-General Yu Wang-sheng of the National Land Management Agency, and Director Chang Chia-lun of the British Standards Institution, along with other domestic experts and scholars, who delivered keynote speeches and engaged in discussions on key sustainability topics. Looking ahead, the Taipei Water Department aims to incorporate expert insights and align with international standards such as ISO 14067 and PAS 2080 to establish a pipeline engineering carbon management framework. This initiative will enhance the Taipei Water Department’s capability to manage carbon emissions in public infrastructure projects, reinforcing efforts to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction. Through these measures, the Taipei Water Department seeks to collectively achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals in the field of water supply management, supporting businesses in their low-carbon transformation and laying a solid foundation for long-term sustainability.

Moving forward, the Taipei Water Department will continue to conduct annual greenhouse gas inventories and implement energy-saving and carbon reduction policies. By serving as a model for government and corporate collaboration, the department aims to encourage more enterprises to engage in carbon monitoring and emission reduction initiatives proactively. With these efforts, the Taipei Water Department is committed to achieving its interim target of a 65% reduction in carbon emissions by 2040, ultimately working toward the 2050 vision of a net-zero Taipei.