Our university organized an administrative unit education training activity on June 28, focusing on SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The event took place at the “Taipei Water Park,” a nearby and distinctive environmental education facility, integrating the concept of net-zero green living to echo the government’s life transformation policy. Participants were encouraged to use green transportation methods, such as bicycles or walking, to reach the venue. Additionally, no packaged beverages or water were used during the event to minimize waste production.
The objectives of this event were to enhance participants’ knowledge regarding water resource conservation, improve water resource and sustainability literacy, promote net-zero carbon green living, and create a collaborative platform linking government environmental education departments with various school units.
The event was divided into Group A and Group B. Participants visited the Museum of Drinking Water, Guanyinshan Reservoir and Gongguan Purification Plant. Each location was guided and explained by environmental education instructors from the Taipei Water Park.
The historic buildings and facilities in the Taipei Water Park date back to the Japanese colonial period. At that time, Taiwan had poor sanitary conditions and inadequate drinking water, with approximately 4,700 deaths caused by environmental pollution. Japan hired British engineer William Barton to help address water resource issues and plan the tap water facilities, leading to his recognition as the “Father of Tap Water in Taiwan.” The main water source for the Greater Taipei area comes from the Xindian River, with its upstream divided into the Nanshi River and Beishi River. The Feitsui Reservoir, located in the Beishi River basin, is a crucial “water source catchment area.” However, relying on a single water source means that if the water quality is poor or contaminated, it will affect the water safety and quality for Taipei residents. Therefore, soil and water conservation and pollution prevention in the Xindian River catchment area are essential.
After the visit, the Director of the Sustainability Development Center, Chang Tzu-Chau, shared the water resource conservation plan and the campus promotion of the eco-friendly cup campaign. Finally, a 20-question water resource survey was conducted to increase participants’ knowledge and enhance sustainability literacy. Among the 35 responses, the average number of correct answers was 12-13. The question with the fewest correct answers, with only 9 participants answering correctly, was “What level of sewage treatment plants are the newly planned sewage treatment plants (Minsheng, Binjiang, Shezi Island) in Taipei?” This may be due to the relatively low coverage of sewage treatment in the event. Additionally, only 11 people correctly answered the question “What is the average daily water consumption per person in Taipei City?” According to the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the average daily water consumption per person in 2023 was 287 liters, with Taipei City having the highest at 337 liters.
Through visiting important water resource conservation facilities, this event aimed to raise participants’ awareness of water usage and emphasize the importance of water resources. The event also advocated for the avoidance of packaged beverages and water, encouraging participants to integrate green consumption behaviors into daily life, reduce waste at the source, minimize resource consumption, and enhance sustainability literacy, taking concrete actions to achieve net-zero carbon goals.
