2008 - 2009 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012 - 2013

TAIWAN
PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Water demand forecasts
Water resources, supply and demand (million m 3 )
1991 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Surface N/A N/A 5,674 5,488 5,437 5,382 5,543
water
Ground N/A N/A 12,146 12,998 13,264 12,219 12,247
water
Total 17,675 18,919 17,820 18,486 18,701 17,601 17,790
Agriculture 13,554 14,546 12,317 13,012 13,410 12,434 12,604
Domestic 2,493 2,747 3,633 3,734 3,525 3,559 3,532
Industry 1,628 1,626 1,870 1,740 1,766 1,608 1,654
Source: Statistic of Water Resources, Water Resources Agency, MEA, Taiwan, 2005
Total extraction of water was 19.5km 3 pa in 1997, and is forecast to rise to 21.2–23.0km 3 by 2036.
Domestic water consumption accounted for 2.4km 3 in 1997, and is forecast to rise to 4.2–5.0km 3 by
2036, while industrial water consumption accounted for 1.7km 3 in 1997, and is forecast to rise to
2.0-3.0km 3 . Use of water in agriculture is expected to be constant at 15.4km 3 . These forecasts point to
an excess in demand over currently sustainable resources of 1.2–.2.0km 3 per annum by 2036. While
distribution losses can be reduced from their current level of 20% to perhaps 15-18%, further
development of the country’s reservoirs and bulk water supply network looks necessary in the longer
term.
Internal renewable resources
Total (1998, km 3 ) 64.5
Per capita (1998, m 3 ) 2,972
Withdrawals (1997, km 3 ) 13.5
For domestic use (1997) 13%
Development of water services
Access to piped water rose from 69.5% in 1981 to 84.2% in 1991. In 1996 water utilities in Taiwan
provided 8.45million m 3 of drinking water per day to 15.33million people. Domestic usage rose from
66m 3 per capita per annum in 1977 to 121m 3 per capita per annum in 1995.
Water quality standards
Drinking water quality is assessed under Article 11 of the 1997 Drinking Water Management Statues.
15,000 samples per annum are taken. Until recently, source contamination had caused some
deterioration in water quality.
Drinking water quality:
1991 98.17% pass
1995 95.72% pass
2000 98.85% pass
2002 99.67% pass
2004 99.52% pass
2006 99.54% pass
2007 99.58% pass
2008 (ytd) 99.47% pass
Over-abstraction of groundwater has resulted in saltwater ingress, while river quality has declined
because of uncontrolled discharges. Under the National Environmental Protection Plan, targets are
97.68% for 2001, 98.34% for 2006 and above 99.00% for 2011.
170
Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2008-2009