In a remarkable environmental achievement, Taoyuan City has garnered the "Excellence Award" in the national assessment for the removal of litter from terrestrial water bodies in 2022. Demonstrating its commitment to aquatic conservation, the city government diligently oversees and manages its waterways, including 53 local rivers and regional drainage areas, and has been actively spearheading initiatives to intercept litter in surface waters. The Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection has been at the forefront of these initiatives, not only by setting up regular inspection points to trap litter but also by enlisting the help of volunteer Water Environment Patrol Teams across various administrative districts for clean-up efforts. In maintaining the flow and cleanliness of city-managed rivers and regional drainage systems, the Taoyuan Water Resources Bureau plays a pivotal role. With an impressive record of 4,247 inspections last year, they successfully removed 86 metric tons of waste. This notable endeavor earned them the top "Excellence in Surface Water Litter Removal Assessment" award for metropolitan areas, bestowed by the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan.
Director General Shi-wei Chen of the Department of Environmental Protection, expressed his gratitude to the volunteers of the Taoyuan Water Environment Patrol Team for their tireless efforts. He emphasized that removing litter from surface water is not only crucial for protecting water quality but also represents a significant step toward fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – specifically SDGs6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDGs11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The stream clean-up efforts align with these goals by not only addressing water pollution in accordance with SDGs6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) but also by bringing together private groups, businesses, and government agencies in a collaborative effort to enhance water quality, steadily moving towards sustainable urban development outlined in SDGs11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
The Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection, is steadfastly continuing its efforts in 2023 to mitigate litter in surface water bodies. The Department has strategically chosen six city-managed rivers and regional drainage areas — Nankan River, Laojie River, Puxin River, Qiaotou River, Xinjie River, and Qia River — for the installation of litter-trapping nets. These targeted installations, coupled with regular and random inspections, have significantly reduced the amount of litter in surface waters. These nets, strategically designed to float and not touch the riverbed, effectively trap debris drifting on the water surface without harming the benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms, thereby safeguarding both the environmental and ecological integrity of the rivers.