Taichung is one of the few cities in Taiwan with a continuously growing population. As urban development progresses and more people move into the city, the Water Resources Bureau of Taichung City Government has actively promoted sewer system construction. This year, the number of households connected to the sewer network has exceeded 320,000, with Taichung recording the highest growth rate among Taiwan’s six special municipalities. At today’s (May 12) municipal administrative meeting, the Water Resources Bureau delivered a special report titled “From Sewage to Reclamation: Taichung Ranks First Among the Six Special Municipalities in Growth of Household Sewer Connections”. Mayor Shiow-Yen Lu commended the Water Resources Bureau team for its long-term commitment to infrastructure development and its continued efforts to improve residents’ quality of life and strengthen urban resilience.
Mayor Lu said water resources projects are important “conscience projects” for a city. Although most of them are located in places people do not usually see, such as rivers and sewer systems, they are closely connected to residents’ everyday lives. She noted that water resources infrastructure is not only related to flood prevention and water management. If projects are not properly carried out, they may lead to flooding and river siltation. Such work also involves drought prevention, pest and disease control, and environmental improvement. In particular, incomplete sewer connections can easily give rise to problems such as disease-carrying mosquitoes and other pests.
Mayor Lu further pointed out that, in the face of extreme weather and limited natural resources, promoting the recycling and reuse of water resources has become an even more important issue. She said agricultural irrigation, industrial cooling, and some domestic uses previously relied largely on tap water. Now, through a comprehensive sewage treatment system, domestic wastewater can be converted into reclaimed water for agricultural and industrial use. This not only improves water-use efficiency, but also helps stabilize the domestic water supply. She also expressed special thanks to Water Resources Bureau Director Shih-I Fan and his team, describing them as “Ninja Turtle superheroes” who quietly protect the city. Since she took office, the number of households connected to Taichung’s sewer network has grown from approximately 170,000 to the current 320,000, and is expected to reach 350,000 next year. This represents a major achievement of doubling the number of connections in just eight years.
The Water Resources Bureau said sewer systems are one of the key indicators of infrastructure in advanced countries. The city government continues to promote sewer connection projects, not only to improve residential quality and environmental sanitation, but also to actively advance reclaimed water projects by recycling and reusing domestic wastewater for enterprise use. This creates the dual benefits of conserving tap water and stabilizing industrial water supply. The Bureau also called on residents to cooperate with sewer connection projects and work together to protect the living environment.
Water Resources Bureau Director Shih-I Fan added that, in addition to the eight districts of the former Taichung City, the city government has in recent years actively promoted sewer connection projects in Fengyuan, Taiping, Guguan in Heping District, and the Taichung Port Special District. The city has also secured central government approval for the implementation plan for the Wuri Water Resources Recycling Center, with related tendering procedures to begin this year. In terms of reclaimed water promotion, the Shuinan Reclaimed Water Project has supplied 10,000 metric tons of reclaimed water per day to Central Taiwan Science Park since 2024. The Futian Reclaimed Water Project is expected to be completed this year and will be able to supply 58,000 metric tons of reclaimed water per day to the Taichung Port Industrial Park. In response to the second-phase expansion plan of Central Taiwan Science Park, the city government has also planned to supply at least 72,000 metric tons of reclaimed water per day in the future.
Sewer system construction protects residents’ home environments and public health, while reclaimed water projects put resource recycling and reuse into practice and create new value from wastewater. In the future, the Water Resources Bureau of Taichung City Government will continue to promote various water resources projects, moving toward the goals of building a livable city and making full use of active water resources, while continuing to protect residents’ quality of life and urban safety.
(5/12*6)*Water Resources Bureau
Contact: Water Resources Bureau, Taichung City Government
Contact No.: 04-22289111