TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Water Co. Chair Lee Jia-rong (李嘉榮) said the company plans to connect the Feitsui Reservoir pipeline in New Taipei’s Xizhi District to parts of Qidu and Nuannuan Districts in Keelung to enhance the city’s water supply resilience, CNA reported.
The move follows an incident from late November to early December, when Keelung’s tap water was contaminated with oil, affecting up to 180,000 households in the city, including Xizhi District. According to Keelung City Government, the contamination was caused by Chiang Cheng Co., which is suspected of discharging waste oil from a cargo ship into drainage channels, ultimately polluting the Keelung River.
Taiwan Water said the company has implemented measures such as switching water sources, activating water treatment facilities, and monitoring water quality. It also offered affected customers fee reductions and subsidies for cleaning water tanks and pipeline equipment.
On Wednesday, KMT lawmakers and Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) visited a pumping station in the city’s Nuannuan District to inspect the water supply and ensure it has recovered from the contamination.
Hsieh said the city’s water is drawn from the Keelung River, then treated before being delivered to households. He added the incident was worsened by a malfunction in the city’s water treatment facilities.
KMT Legislator Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔) urged Taiwan Water to prioritize water safety following the river contamination. He noted that some Xizhi residents remain concerned about drinking water from the river and called for upgrades to Feitsui Reservoir’s facilities to boost water quality and supply capacity.
Lee added that daily water demand in Xizhi can reach up to 100,000 tonnes, while Feitsui Reservoir supplies 80,000 tonnes. Taiwan Water plans to lay pipelines along the 12-km Keelung MRT route, which would boost the reservoir’s capacity to 130,000 tonnes, covering all of Xizhi and parts of Keelung.
The company said the project is estimated to cost more than NT$1.2 billion (US$40 million) and take four years to complete, pending Cabinet approval.
