TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Thursday approved an additional NT$80.77 billion (US$2.45 billion) investment over the next eight years to reduce Taiwan's water leakage rate to 10%.

Analysis methods using big data will help identify leakage hotspots, guide pipe replacement, and focus on pipeline maintenance. A two-pronged strategy of active leakage reduction and improved maintenance will further enhance water supply resilience.

The investment will also support implementing intelligent water supply network management to enhance Taiwan's resilience to extreme weather challenges. The project aims to decrease the leakage rate to 9.77% by 2032, saving around 59.1 million cubic meters of water annually, per CNA.

This equates to about 1.17 times the effective storage capacity of the Hushan Reservoir. It also signifies a daily reduction in leakage of 160,000 cubic meters, which is approximately 1.1 times the daily water supply of the Central Taiwan Science Park.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) emphasized that addressing the challenges of climate change and securing adequate water resources is critical for environmental and industrial sustainability. He added that the Ministry of Economic Affairs' ongoing efforts have successfully reduced Taiwan Water Corp.’s leakage rate from 19.55% in 2013 to 11.99% in 2024.

Cho also highlighted the need for citizens and the nation to face the issue of reasonable water pricing. He requested the MOEA to review the matter.