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Total Quantity Control District

Origin

River, lakes and other water bodies are polluted mainly due to concentrated discharge of industrial wastewater and sewage. Such a large amount of wastewater exceeds the carrying capacity of a water body (meaning that the river takes in too much polluted water). To reduce water pollution in water bodies, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) has adopted total quantity control method for sections of rivers that are more heavily polluted. The amount of polluted water that can be released to the section everyday is based on the carrying capacity of the water body.

According to Article 9 of the Water Pollution Control Act, the MOENV shall implement controls using total quantity control methods for the discharge of wastewater or sewage by following the 5 principles illustrated in the figure below. Impaired water bodies should be first identified, and control methods should be adopted for the discharge of pollutants.

Selection of water bodies for total quantity control methods and execution
Selection of water bodies for total quantity control methods and execution

The targets of implementation are identified as measurement stations with severe pollution, those exceeding the criteria for heavy metal, impacts on water needs, water bodies of frequent pollution reports, and those to be specifically protected. Once identified, these targets are subject to total quantity control and water bodies that have already sustained damage are isolated for additional control measures on the sources that discharge pollutants into these water bodies. The implementation of total quantity control includes additional or stricter effluence discharge criteria within jurisdiction, requirements for applications for change of permit, development of total quantity control zones, and revision of regular inspection application mechanism.

Implementation

  • Reduction of total quantity II. Stricter standards on total quantity
    • Reduction measures shall be formulated for different sources of pollution. Relevant measures include installing tubes connecting to public sewage systems, on-site treatment, intercepting wastewater and sewage, inspection and control, wastewater and sewage reduction, in-depth inspection, and transforming animal excreta and liquor and fiber digestate into resources.
    • Required amount of reduction, required amount of reduction achieved by different measures, and execution schedule of each measure shall be determined based on the extent of pollution of impaired water bodies.
    • Carry out simulations using water quality models after treatment strategies are formulated so to determine the level of improvement when all measures are completed.
  • Stricter standards on total quantity
    • Add new or impose stricter effluent standards and formulate total quantity control methods for waste (polluted) water discharge, such as delineating areas subject to total quality control, amending requirements for permission application, and adjust mechanisms for testing and reporting.
    • Corresponding measures shall be formulated for different sources of pollution. Relevant measures include installing tubes connecting to public sewage systems, on-site treatment, intercepting wastewater and sewage, inspection and control, wastewater and sewage reduction, in-depth inspection, transforming animal excreta and liquor and fiber digestate into resources.
    • Required amount of reduction, required amount of reduction achieved by different measures, and execution schedule of each measure shall be determined based on the extent of pollution of impaired water bodies.
    • Carry out simulations using water quality models after treatment strategies are formulated so to determine the level of improvement when all measures are completed.

Results

the MOENV plans to implement total quantity control methods in three phases. The goal for each phase is detailed below:

  • Phase I: compile the list of water bodies subject to total quantity control and conduct annual review and revision. Rivers recognized as having heavy pollution by river pollution index (RPI) or those contaminated by heavy metals are prioritized for control.
  • Phase II: expand the scope of total quantity control to cover regional drainages, lakes, and reservoirs. Reduce the number of monitoring stations on heavy pollution and heavy metal contamination by half. Execute total quantity control methods for farmlands with a higher potential to be polluted in Taiwan.
  • Phase III: based on RPI, reduce heavy-polluted waters to medium-polluted. The amount of heavy metals in rivers across Taiwan is compliant with standards for the protection of human health and environments. Water quality at the intakes of household, irrigation, and aquaculture water is compliant with relevant standards.

As of the end of October 2018, six local governments had delineated (expanded) 7 areas subject to total quantity control, and 4 local governments had announced stricter effluent standards for 4 water bodies (detailed below) under the supervision of the MOENV. the MOENV will continue to monitor and determine areas subject to total quantity control and strengthen effluent standards to improve water quality. In reference to the list of waterways that Council of Agriculture (COA) deems not fit for irrigation and suspected sources of pollution provided by the Department of Irrigation and Engineering, the MOENV will require the local environmental protection agencies to tighten inspection and increase penalties. Additionally, the MOENV will offer recommendations on the determination of areas subject to total quantity control and stricter effluent standards for local governments and cooperate with them to promote total quantity control methods for heavy metals in industrial wastewater to safeguard the quality of surface water bodies and irrigation water.

Current status of local governments delineating areas subject to total quantity control and tightening effluent standards
City/County Water Bodies Control Measures Control Items Status
New Taipei City Dahan River -Taliaokeng River Tighten effluent standards Copper Announced and executed in Feb. 2017
Dahan River-Daan Canal Tighten effluent standards Copper and true color chromaticity Announced and executed in Feb. 2017
Toayuan City Dakeken River Tighten effluent standards BOD and ammonia nitrogen Announced and executed in Dec. 2014
Hsinjie Creek and Puhsin Creek Delineated control area 6 heavy metals Announced and executed in Feb. 2016
Nankan River Delineated control area Copper Notice given on Jun. 5th 2017
Notice given on Jul. 10th 2017
Announced on Jan. 5th 2018
Hsinchu City Keya River and Sanhsingkung River Tighten effluent standards Copper Announced and executed in Oct. 2017
Areas of farmland for irrigation in Xiangshan District Delineated control area 6 heavy metals Announced and executed on Aug. 9th 2018
Hsinchu County Jiadong River Tighten effluent standards Copper Announced and executed on Dec. 7th 2017
Miaoli County Fangli River Delineated control area Heavy metals, including copper, zinc, nickel, total chromium, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium Announced and executed on May. 3rd 2018
Taichung City Dali River Delineated control area 6 heavy metals Announced and executed in Dec. 2016
Changhua County Dungshi No.2 Canal Tighten effluent standards Copper, zinc, and total chromium Announced and executed in Dec. 2009
Dungshi No.2 and No.3 Canals and Babao Canal Delineated control area 6 heavy metals Announced and executed in Sep. 2018
Tainan City Sanyei River Tighten effluent standards Copper Announced and executed on Aug. 30th 2018
Houjin River Delineated control area Ammonia nitrogen Notice given in Nov. 2016
Announced and on Dec. 29th 2017
Yilan County Farmland irrigation in the territory Tighten effluent standards Surfactants, grease, and certain heavy metals Announced and executed in Dec. 2015
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