Taipei Water Department wins accolades at the Asian Water Awards 2025

The department demonstrated leadership through strategic upgrades and cooperative initiatives that support both local communities and regional water resilience.

Taipei Water Department received dual recognition at the Asian Water Awards 2025, winning the Water Company Excellence Award - Taiwan and Cross-Border Water Cooperation Project of the Year - Taiwan. The accolades highlighted the department’s resilience in water supply management, collaboration across regions, and commitment to infrastructure renewal.

The department demonstrated leadership through strategic upgrades and cooperative initiatives that support both local communities and regional water resilience.

Taipei Water Department won the Water Company Excellence Award - Taiwan for its long-term pipeline renewal and water supply resilience programme. In 2005, the department launched its 20-Year Water Supply Pipeline Network Improvement Plan, a four-phase initiative with an investment of US$791.28m. The project replaced 2,805 km of ageing pipelines, reducing leakage rates from 26.99% to 10% by 2025. These works conserved more than half the storage capacity of the Feitsui Reservoir, Taipei’s primary water source.

The department introduced engineering solutions such as ductile iron and stainless-steel pipes, earthquake-resistant NS-Joint technology, and a raw water tunnel from Feitsui Reservoir to the Zhitan Water Treatment Plant. It also deployed Variable Frequency Drive systems to stabilise pressure and reduce electricity use, achieving a 63 GWh reduction in energy consumption and cutting approximately 31,000 tons of CO₂ emissions by 2024.

Digital transformation supported operations through the WISE (Water Intelligence System of eTaipei) platform, which integrates SCADA, GIS, IoT, and customer data for real-time monitoring, leakage prediction, and hydraulic modelling. The department also expanded public access to safe drinking water with more than 700 outdoor fountains and promoted environmental education through the Taipei Museum of Drinking Water.

Commissioner Huan-ying Fan said the recognition at the Asian Water Awards 2025 reflects the team’s efforts to upgrade infrastructure and improve system resilience. “It proves that the Taipei Water Department is a capable and forward-looking utility, committed to delivering sustainable and reliable water services,” the commissioner said.

Cross-regional collaboration strengthens water resilience

Taipei Water Department was also recognised for its cross-regional collaboration under the Banxin Water Supply Improvement Project and related initiatives. Developed after the 2002 drought, the project expanded supply to New Taipei City and nearby areas through two major phases. Works included the expansion of Zhitan Water Treatment Plant, new pumping stations, and transmission pipelines. With joint investment exceeding NT$12b, the initiative increased water transmission capacity by 700,000 CMD per phase. This allowed cross-regional transfers of more than 700,000 tons daily by 2023.

The project involved cooperation with Taiwan Water Corporation, the Water Resources Agency, and other stakeholders. Integration of resources from the Xindian and Dahan rivers increased allocation flexibility and reduced risks during shortages. These measures were critical during the 2021 drought, when Taipei maintained stable supplies whilst other regions faced irrigation suspension, industrial shutdowns, and water rationing.

Looking ahead, the department is contributing to Taiwan’s national “String of Pearls” project, a 10-year plan targeting an additional 100 million tons of support capacity by 2025. The initiative links key water infrastructure nodes that enable scalable transfers from north to south and reinforce national water security. “This award will not only acknowledge our achievement but also highlight the power of collaboration in overcoming adversity,” Distribution Division Chief Gin-wei Yang said.

The Asian Water Awards highlights innovative water projects, initiatives, and organisations that contribute to improved water management, conservation, and sustainability in the region. It aims to promote best practices, foster knowledge sharing, and encourage collaborations across the industry.

The Asian Water Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives in the water industry in Asia, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].