TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Water Corp. said that it will collaborate with water purification equipment providers to enhance water quality and meet the needs of users in the medical and tech sectors, CNA reported.
The company said that it will select its partners through an open selection process. Under the plan, Taiwan Water will set water quality certification standards and conduct testing, while partner companies will handle the production, sales, installation, and after-sales services of purification products. The company hopes the initiative will help reduce operating costs without requiring significant increases in industrial water prices.
While the tap water supplied meets drinking water standards, the company noted that water quality can be affected by aging pipelines within buildings or insufficient maintenance of water storage tanks. Given the strict water quality requirements of certain sectors, the initiative is intended to address these needs.
Industries such as semiconductors, flat-panel displays, and precision manufacturing require water that meets strict standards, including low levels of dissolved solids, hardness, and organic matter. To maintain stable production and reduce risks, these sectors place an emphasis on reliable water supplies and backup systems.
The semiconductor industry, in particular, uses large amounts of ultrapure water during manufacturing, including for removing metals and organic materials from wafer surfaces, diluting chemicals, and mixing with other reagents. Advanced fabrication plants can consume between 100,000 and 150,000 tonnes of water daily.
Some semiconductor companies have started using recycled water and desalinated seawater as part of their water supply. However, recycled water costs up to NT$20 (63 cents) per cubic meter, significantly higher than NT$7–10 for tap water. The sector still relies mainly on tap water, as the plan depends on governments expanding sewer connections.
The medical sector primarily uses water for drug manufacturing, equipment cleaning and sterilization, and laboratory work. It requires water with low bacterial levels and minimal impurities, with certain processes needing ultrapure or demineralized water.
