Water supply and sanitation in Taiwan is characterized by uneven distribution of precipitation and a dense population.
Water supply and sanitation in Taiwan is characterized by uneven distribution of precipitation and a dense population.
The Central Mountain Range is the main mountain range running from north to south of the island. Most of the rivers on the island flow from east to west following the contour of the mountains. Although the annual rainfall is up to 2,510 mm, which is 2.5 times higher than the world's average, the distribution of the rainfall is not even due to the geographical condition of Taiwan. [1]
In the period of 2000-2009, Taiwan had 95.07 billion tons of annual rain precipitation. From there, 20.00 billion tons evaporated (21%), 70.10 billion tons became surface runoff (74%) and 4.97 billion tons became groundwater (5%). Added from groundwater overdraft of 0.63 billion tons, the total groundwater pumping was 5.60 billion tons. From the surface runoff water, 54.70 billion tons was discharged to the sea, 4.35 billion tons became water supply for reservoirs and 11.05 billion tons became river water diversion. [2]
Despite its high annual rainfall, Taiwan is only able to use 20% of it as water resource, making it in the 18th place under the United Nations global ranking in terms of being water resource poor region. [3]
In Kinmen, water supply has been scarce over the past decades due to its shallow lakes, lack of rainfall and geographical constraints which makes building reservoirs and dams unfeasible. Water from reservoirs is barely enough to meet the demand during dry seasons. Therefore, Kinmen often overuse its groundwater for up to 8,000 tonnes per day, causing rising tidal flood and soil salinity. [4]
In early September 2013 after Kinmen Deputy Commissioner Wu You-qin led a delegation to visit Mainland China, the Chinese Mainland government agreed to supply Kinmen with water from Jinjiang City in Fujian. An undersea 16.7 km water pipeline will be built to carry water from the Shanmei Reservoir in Jinjiang city to coastal area of Kinmen. The pipeline is expected to deliver a maximum amount of 30,000 tonnes of water each day to Kinmen. A further 300 meter of water pipe will be constructed to a water treatment plant. [5]
On 23–24 May 2015, Head of Taiwan Affairs Office Zhang Zhijun visited Kinmen to discuss the water supply plan from Fujian to Kinmen. The initial stage is to supply 15,000 m3 of fresh water a day, to be increased to 34,000 m3 a day in the medium-term and to 55,000 m3 in the long-term. The water company in Fujian will build a pumping station and pipeline to the coastal town of Bingzhou and the pipeline will be connected to a 17-km underground water pipeline to Tianpu in Kinmen which will cost NT$1.35 billion. [6]
The annual per capita water allowance is 4,000 m3 and the current average water consumption per capita in Taiwan is 271 liter per day. [7] [8] In 2001, the annual water usage for Taiwan was 18,600 million tons, which was divided into agriculture (12,290 million tons), domestic (3,600 million tons), industry (1,750 million tons) and conservation (9,600 million tons). [9]
Reservoir water supply, river water diversion and groundwater pumping made up the total water consumption for Taiwanese, which was 21.00 billion tons in total. Among them, 3.53 billion tons was used for household consumption (20%), 1.66 billion tons was used for industrial consumption (9%) and 15.81 billion tons was used for agricultural consumption. [2] In 2023 drought forced cuts to agricultural water consumption. [10]
Taiwan Water Corporation is the state-owned water utility providing water supply to most of Taiwan. [11]
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The island of Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territories under ROC control. The main island measures 35,808 square kilometres (13,826 sq mi) and lies some 180 kilometres (112 mi) across the Taiwan Strait from the southeastern coast of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The East China Sea lies to the north of the island, the Philippine Sea to its east, the Luzon Strait directly to its south and the South China Sea to its southwest. The ROC also controls a number of smaller islands, including the Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait, the Kinmen and Matsu Islands in Fuchien near the PRC's coast, and some of the South China Sea Islands.
Kinmen, alternatively known as Quemoy, is a group of islands governed as a county by the Republic of China (Taiwan), off the southeastern coast of the People's Republic of China. It lies roughly 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the city of Xiamen in Fujian, from which it is separated by Xiamen Bay. Kinmen is located 187 km (116 mi) west from the shoreline of the island of Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait.
The Coast Guard Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council, also known as the Taiwan Coast Guard or R.O.C. Coast Guard, is charged with maintaining law and order, protecting the resources of the territorial waters of the Republic of China (Taiwan), which surrounds Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu Islands, Green Island, Orchid Island, Pratas Island (Tungsha/Dongsha), and Nansha Islands as well as providing a first line of defense along coastal areas against smugglers and illegal immigrants. The CGA is considered a civilian law enforcement agency under the administration of the Ocean Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan, though during emergencies it may be incorporated as part of the Republic of China Armed Forces.
In 2022, 79.6% of Taiwan's electricity generation came from fossil fuels, 9.1% from nuclear, 8.6% from renewables, and 1.2% from hydro. Taiwan relies on imports for almost 98% of its energy, which leaves the island's energy supply vulnerable to external disruption. In order to reduce this dependence, the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Energy has been actively promoting energy research at several universities since the 1990s.
Agriculture is one of the main industries in Taiwan. It contributes to the food security, rural development and conservation of Taiwan. Around 24% of Taiwan's land is used for farming.
The impact of the petroleum industry has been increasing globally as China ranks seventh for oil production and second in crude oil consumption in the world.
Water supply and sanitation in Israel are intricately linked to the historical development of Israel. Because rain falls only in the winter, and largely in the northern part of the country, irrigation and water engineering are considered vital to the country's economic survival and growth. Large scale projects to desalinate seawater, direct water from rivers and reservoirs in the north, make optimal use of groundwater, and reclaim flood overflow and sewage have been undertaken. Among them is the National Water Carrier, carrying water from the country's biggest freshwater lake, the Sea of Galilee, to the northern part of the Negev desert through channels, pipes and tunnels. Israel's water demand today outstrips available conventional water resources. Thus, in an average year, Israel relies for about half of its water supply on unconventional water resources, including reclaimed water and desalination. A particularly long drought in 1998–2002 had prompted the government to promote large-scale seawater desalination. In 2022, 85% of the country's drinkable water was produced through desalination of saltwater and brackish water.
California's interconnected water system serves over 30 million people and irrigates over 5,680,000 acres (2,300,000 ha) of farmland. As the world's largest, most productive, and potentially most controversial water system, it manages over 40 million acre-feet (49 km3) of water per year.
Shihmen Dam is a major rock fill dam across the Dahan River in northern Taoyuan City. It forms the Shihmen Reservoir (石門水庫), Taiwan's third largest reservoir or artificial lake. It provides irrigation in Taoyuan, flood control for the Taipei Basin, and hydroelectricity and domestic water supply for more than three million people in northern Taiwan.
Feicui Dam is a double curvature concrete arch dam on the Beishi River in Shiding District, New Taipei, Taiwan, forming Feicui Reservoir (翡翠水庫). The dam is located in Shiding District, New Taipei City, and is usually misunderstood as the principal water source for the Greater Taipei area. The name of the dam and reservoir translates as "emerald lake", in reference to the pure quality of the water. The area is managed by the Taipei Feicui Reservoir Administration. Public access is heavily restricted in order to protect water quality, which is among the highest of Taiwan's reservoirs.
Namibia is an arid country that is regularly afflicted by droughts. Large rivers flow only along its northern and southern borders, but they are far from the population centers. They are also far from the country's mines, which are large water users. In order to confront this challenge, the country has built dams to capture the flow from ephemeral rivers, constructed pipelines to transport water over large distances, pioneered potable water reuse in its capital Windhoek located in the central part of Namibia, and built Sub-Saharan Africa's first large seawater desalination plant to supply a uranium mine and the city of Swakopmund with water. A large scheme to bring water from the Okavango River in the North to Windhoek, the Eastern National Water Carrier, was only partially completed during the 1980s.
The Turkey–Northern Cyprus water pipeline was built by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project which was an international water diversion project designed to supply water for drinking and irrigation from southern Turkey to Northern Cyprus via pipeline under Mediterranean Sea. The pipeline was completed in September 2014. As such, the project is unique in the world.
Lee Wo-shih is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Magistrate of Kinmen County from 20 December 2009 until 25 December 2014.
Lee Chu-feng is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Magistrate of Kinmen County from 2001 to 2009.
Events from the year 2014 in Taiwan, Republic of China. This year is numbered Minguo 103 according to the official Republic of China calendar.
Mining has been practiced in Taiwan for hundreds of years. Sulfur was an early important resource collected on the island. Coal mining expanded in the 19th century to keep up with demand from increased foreign trade. Heavy industry was further expanded under Japanese rule, but air raids towards the end of World War II decimated mining infrastructure, falling below 19th century production levels. Copper mining expanded in the mid-20th century, but ended in the 1980s following a global collapse in the price of copper.
The Kinmen Bridge is a cross-sea bridge in Kinmen, Fujian, Republic of China (Taiwan). It connects Greater Kinmen Island and Lieyu Island.
Climate change in Taiwan has caused temperatures in Taiwan to rise by 1.4 degrees Celsius the last 100 years. The sea around Taiwan is to rise at twice the rate of the global sea level rise. The government pledged to reduce emissions by 20% in 2030 and 50% in 2050, compared to 2005 levels.
The Jinjiang–Kinmen Pipeline is a pipeline that supplies drinking water from Jinjiang City in Mainland China to Kinmen County in Fujian Province, Republic of China.
The Tianpu Reservoir is a reservoir in Jinsha Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan. It is the catchment area of water supplied from Mainland China through the Jinjiang–Kinmen Pipeline.
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