TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Water will acquire 10 more drones this year to strengthen water quality inspections and help prevent supply disruptions, CNA reported.
The company said Taiwan has 486 water treatment plants, including 140 that use surface water, with 169 water quality monitoring systems installed. It also plans to expand the use of UAVs for equipment inspection by the end of this year.
Taiwan Water currently operates 11 drones, mainly used to inspect reservoirs and upstream river areas. The company said it will purchase additional drones priced between NT$100,000 (US$3,000) and NT$300,000, considering factors such as payload capacity and endurance.
At a press conference on Monday, Taiwan Water Chair Lee Jia-rong (李嘉榮) said the company is using an AI-powered platform and a mobile testing vehicle to ensure that tap water meets quality standards.
Lee said its water quality monitoring systems generate 1.27 billion data records annually. When combined with the AI-driven platform, the system can detect supply disruptions in specific areas, allowing the company to deploy response staff.
The company’s mobile testing vehicle is equipped with inspection and analysis instruments, allowing rapid response to pollution incidents and screening of over 300 substances. Last year, following an oil leak at the National Atomic Research Institute in Taoyuan, the company deployed the vehicle to help a nearby water treatment plant prevent pollutants from entering the tap water system.
The water quality inspection unmanned boat “Taiwan Water No. 1,” developed by National Cheng Kung University and Pan Cheng Engineering Consultants, began operations in December at an artificial lake in Nantou. The domestically made boat features an autonomous navigation system and water quality monitoring instruments that can transmit data back to the company’s cloud platform.
The company added that it operates 14 water quality laboratories certified by the International Organization for Standardization. The facilities conduct more than 270,000 tests annually. They have also supported the environmental ministry in sampling contaminated water.
The company highlighted the need to strengthen water quality inspection technology and capacity. It said domestic water quality is mainly affected by limited sewage system coverage, aging pipelines, and industrial and livestock wastewater without proper treatment.
