The Taichung City Government is actively advancing the development of sewage treatment systems. In addition to expediting the connection of house sewer lines, the number of households with connected pipelines has reached 106,000 from 2019 to 2023. The city government is also continuously promoting projects for reclaimed water. Efforts are being made to secure the construction of the Wuri Reclaimed Water Plant and Water Resource Recovery Facility, increase the connection of house sewer lines, and enhance subsidies for cesspool elimination. Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen, presiding over a municipal meeting today (16th), described the connection of sewer lines as a conscientious development and acknowledged it as the most challenging among all government construction projects. She expressed gratitude to the Water Resources Bureau for its proactive efforts over the past five years in improving Taichung City's water environment, urging citizens to be cooperative in future project endeavors.
“Despite facing significant challenges, the city government has unwavering determination.” Mayor Lu noted that connecting sewer lines in Taichung City encounters several hurdles. Firstly, the city's hard geological makeup, primarily composed of gravel layers, escalates both the cost and complexity of repair works. Moreover, pipeline installation requires the removal of back alleys as residents often expand their homes or utilize the spaces of back alleys. While the city government covers the outdoor pipeline connection costs, residents are responsible for the ones in indoor spaces, leading to frequent refusals and considerable hurdles in promoting the connection of house sewer lines. Over the past five years, the Water Resources Bureau has persistently engaged with residents, outlining the pros and cons, resulting in the successful connection of over 100,000 households, which was quite remarkable.
Mayor Lu highlighted that upon the completion of the sewage system refurbishment, it would not only enhance the environment by addressing foul odors and cleanliness issues but also effectively address public health issues, thereby fostering the overall well-being of residents. Moreover, treated sewage can be repurposed, such as for industrial use, enabling efficient water resource management.
At today's municipal meeting, Director Fan Shih-i of the Water Resources Bureau presented a project report titled “The Unseen Conscientious Development - Progress in Sewage Treatment System Promotion.” Director Fan emphasized the importance of sewage systems. Before pipeline connections, domestic sewage used to be discharged into regional drainage areas through gutters, requiring regular sludge removal. This not only caused odors from cesspools but also attracted pests like cockroaches and rats to the gutters. During rainy days, there were issues with the mixing of rainwater and sewage in the gutters. However, after pipeline connections, there’s no need to regularly remove sewage sludge, and there are no more unpleasant odors in the gutters. Additionally, on sunny days, the gutters can remain dry, contributing to the prevention of diseases like dengue fever and environmental hygiene.
Director Fan outlined that Taichung City presently has plans for 19 sewage systems. Moving forward, the primary focus of the city government will be on enhancing infrastructure development in the areas that were originally part of Taichung County. This involves phased initiatives to facilitate the connection of sewer lines in Fengyuan, Dali, Taiping, and the Taichung Port Designated Zone, aimed at reducing disparities in urban and rural development. Additionally, progress has been made with the system in Guguan, which completed land acquisition last year and is now undergoing construction to achieve the final stage of pollution reduction in the water source area.
Director Fan highlighted that in recent years, the city government has been consistently promoting the elimination of cesspools to reduce methane and carbon emissions from households. To increase the prevalence of house sewer line connection in Taichung City, a new subsidy program has been introduced this year, titled "Subsidy for the Elimination of Existing Cesspools on Ground Level," providing 5,000 NTD per unit. This initiative aims to assist households facing short-term financial constraints by offering subsidies for loan processing fees (up to 5,000 NTD) and pipeline connection subsidies for middle and low-income households (up to 150,000 NTD). Furthermore, the subsidy amount for "Cesspool Elimination on Basement Levels of Buildings" has been increased, ranging from 65,000 to 150,000 NTD (originally 48,000 to 90,000 NTD).
Director Fan also noted that in recent years, there have been frequent droughts, particularly severe in 2021. Consequently, the Water Resources Bureau has been consistently advancing projects related to reclaimed water to prevent water scarcity. Processing 1 ton of sewage yields 0.65 tons of reclaimed water. In addition to the goal of reaching 350,000 households with connected pipelines by 2027, the city government continues to promote the Futian and Shuinan reclaimed water projects. It is also collaborating with the National Land Management Agency on the "Joint Supply to Central Taiwan Science Park Project."
Director Fan noted that the reclaimed water initiative serves multiple purposes. It reallocates tap water originally allocated for industrial use to residential consumption while encouraging businesses to purchase reclaimed water at a higher rate in alignment with corporate social responsibility. Furthermore, the Water Resource Recovery Facility offers free access to reclaimed water, which can be used for various purposes such as watering, toilet flushing, and surface cleaning. It also supports the watering of nearby parks managed by the Construction Bureau and Sports Bureau, thereby reducing the reliance on tap water.
Director Fan highlighted that the Futian Reclaimed Water project, which began with a memorandum of cooperation signed in 2020, has made significant progress, reaching 32% completion. Expected to be completed by 2026, it will provide a daily supply of 58,000 tons of reclaimed water to Dragon Steel Corporation and Taichung Port. Similarly, the Shuinan Reclaimed Water project, set to be completed this year, will offer a daily supply of 10,000 tons to the Taichung Science Park of the Central Taiwan Science Park. Additionally, the "Joint Supply to Central Taiwan Science Park Project" was initiated in response to the 2nd phase expansion of the Taichung Science Park. With a goal of 100% reclaimed water usage, this collaborative effort between the city government and the National Land Management Agency will utilize discharged water from the Futian and Wuri Water Resource Recovery Facilities to meet the park's water demand. This project, expected to provide a daily supply of 58,000 tons, could position Taichung City as the leading provider of reclaimed water in the country. (1/16*8)*Water Resources Bureau
Contact Person: Water Resources Bureau, Taichung City Government
Contact Number: 04-22289111