Strategy in Water Quality Management in the Republic of China

The author describes the quality of surface water in Taiwan, which has deteriorated significantly in the last twenty years as a result of industrial, domestic and agricultural pollution. The measures taken by the Taiwan Provincial Water Pollution Control Agency, set up following the promulgation of a National Water Pollution Act, are described. These have included enactment of laws and regulations, comprehensive planning of water quality management, control and guidelines for industrial effluent treatment, planning and construction of municipal sewerage systems, prevention of manure pollution, establishment of standards and evaluation of degree of pollution. Staff training and public relations exercises, aswellas cost allocation, are discussed.