Taipei Water Department

　　Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an visited Sun Plaza in Lane 150, Section 3, Zhishan Road, Shilin District today (May 13) to inspect the high-elevation water supply project for Xishan and Pingdeng Boroughs being carried out by the Taipei Water Department. Mayor Chiang expressed appreciation to frontline construction personnel and highly commended the Taipei Water Department, district offices, and local communities for their close collaboration in continuously advancing the high-elevation water supply project to improve water conditions for residents living in mountainous areas without access to municipal tap water.

　　Chiang noted that a water quality incident involving a simplified water supply system occurred in Xishan Borough in April 2024, drawing widespread public attention. Following the incident, the city government immediately approved a dedicated project to improve water supply systems in Xishan and Pingdeng Boroughs, investing more than NT$420 million. The project is scheduled for completion and water service activation by the end of this year. Once completed, it will provide safe and stable tap water to more than 470 households in the remote high-elevation areas of Xishan and Pingdeng Boroughs. Mayor Chiang emphasized that the project reflects the city government’s determination to safeguard water safety and improve quality of life for residents in remote areas.

　　According to the Taipei Water Department, in order to protect water access rights for residents in remote high-elevation areas and encourage households that have not yet connected to the municipal water system, Mayor Chiang raised the subsidy ceiling for Taipei’s “High-Elevation Water Pipeline Extension Subsidy Program” from NT$600,000 to NT$900,000 per household in 2023. In 2024, the city further reduced fees for newly installed external water supply pipelines by 50%, lowering the financial burden on residents and accelerating improvements to high-elevation water supply systems as part of the city government’s commitment to meeting the basic livelihood needs of mountain communities.

　　With support from Mayor Chiang’s policies and close cooperation among district offices and local communities, the Taipei Water Department expects the number of high-elevation households connected to municipal water service between 2023 and 2026 to exceed 1,300 households within just four years. This compares with 1,755 households connected over the previous 27-year period between 1996 and 2022, demonstrating unprecedented progress in high-elevation water supply improvements.

　　The Xishan and Pingdeng Borough high-elevation water supply project includes the installation of more than 30,000 meters of water pipelines in mountainous areas, along with five booster stations and ten water distribution reservoirs. The Taipei Water Department explained that each section of the project must be individually planned according to local terrain conditions, household distribution, and actual water demand. Construction teams have overcome numerous challenges, including dispersed construction sites, steep mountainous elevation differences, narrow roads, and the complexity of coordinating multiple construction interfaces. Work continues to progress according to schedule, with completion and water service activation expected before the end of 2026, bringing high-quality and sufficient Taipei tap water to residents of Xishan and Pingdeng Villages.