To monitor the impact of wastewater from the Hsinchu Science Park on regional water quality, the Hsinchu City Government has installed four automatic continuous water quality monitoring stations along the Touqian River and Keya Creek. In addition, a water quality monitoring system has been set up in the Xiangshan Irrigation Area, complemented by sensors and resin bags to detect abnormal discharges and trace pollution sources. This initiative has earned top honors in the Ministry of Environment’s environmental assessment and monitoring category.

Acting Hsinchu City Mayor Chiu Chen-Yuan emphasized that safe drinking water is vital to public health. The Touqian River is a major source of domestic water for the Greater Hsinchu area. To ensure the safety of the water supply, the city government established an automatic continuous river water quality monitoring station at the Nanya intake point on the Touqian River in January last year. By integrating advanced monitoring technology and data analytics, the system achieves real-time water quality monitoring and secures the safety of the intake point.

The Hsinchu Environmental Protection Bureau explained that traditional river water quality monitoring relies primarily on manual sampling, which only reflects the condition at a specific moment. By adopting continuous automatic monitoring, the city can now track 24-hour water quality trends, providing crucial data for evaluating water characteristics and formulating effective pollution control strategies.

According to the Bureau, since the commissioning of the Nanya intake monitoring station in January last year, river pollution index readings have consistently remained within the “unpolluted to slightly polluted” range, and key indicators have met drinking water source quality standards. To further assess the impact of wastewater from the Hsinchu Science Park, the city added three more continuous monitoring stations along Keya Creek in December last year to track upstream and downstream water quality.

To better protect water used for irrigation and domestic purposes, the city has also installed three monitoring systems in the Xiangshan Irrigation Area. For any detected abnormal discharges in the area, on-site monitoring equipment and resin bags are deployed to trace the pollution source. Last year, this approach led to the successful identification and penalization of two illegal dischargers, effectively curbing further pollution.

The Environmental Protection Bureau stressed that every step is taken to ensure the safety of residents’ drinking water. From source water, supply pipelines, to endpoint facilities, stringent inspections and routine checks are carried out. This year alone, up to May, the city has completed 536 cases covering 1,424 water quality tests, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safeguarding public health.