Reducing industrial zones' and science parks' dependence on the water supply by increasing their water recycling is the path Taiwan's long-term water resources policy must take, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated at the Cabinet meeting today.
The premier made this statement after a briefing by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on the establishment of a pilot park for promoting the regeneration of water resources. With collaboration from central and local government agencies, the first phase of the project has already been completed, and the plant's viability in regenerating wastewater has been verified. Since then, the MOEA's Export Processing Zone Administration (EPZA) has been working to assist manufacturing enterprises to set up industrial-effluent recycling plants. The premier thus enjoined the MOEA to continue helping manufacturers establish "full-cycle" wastewater regeneration plants and commence operations as soon as possible.
Premier Mao stated that regenerated water in industrial zones primarily comes from two sources: industrial effluent and public sewage. Currently, several industrial zones in southern Taiwan are establishing regeneration systems from sewage wastewater. The premier hopes in the future much of the industrial effluent generated by industrial zones and science parks will also be regenerated and reused. As for effluent produced from sewage treatment plants, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) must undertake related coordination when formulating its long-term plan for underground sewage systems. The premier enjoined the MOI, the MOEA, and competent agencies of industrial zones and science parks to work together in carrying out these projects.
Global climate change is getting increasingly severe, the MOEA stated. To resolve the long-term problems of future water demand and wastewater discharges so as to achieve the goal of stable water supply, the EPZA and Water Resources Agency in December 2011 collaborated to establish a pilot plant project for wastewater regeneration. With the project's success, the EPZA has begun to assist Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE Inc.) located in the Nantze Export Processing Zone to set up a wastewater recycling plant, which is expected to be fully completed and operational by the end of 2017. By then, ASE Inc. will be able to reduce water demand and wastewater discharge by 20,000 tons.
The MOEA pointed out that the EPZA has designated the pilot plant as a model of wastewater regeneration which can provide environmental education, operational demonstrations and parameter sharing. The EPZA will also continue to encourage enterprises in the industrial zones and science parks to collaborate with the government's water-resource conservation policy in order to contribute to sustainable water resource development and environmental protection.