Focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 6(SDG6), “Clean Water and Sanitation,” NTNU Sustainable Development Office selected water-related facilities along riverbanks, integrating ecological, environmental, and lifestyle perspectives, to deepen the issue of water resources conservation to develop water resources teaching and experience activities.
To promote water resources environmental education, visit to the Feitsui Reservoir was held on November 29. Participants included environmental ecology experts, NTNU faculty and staff, and principals, supervisors, directors, and teachers from the Environmental Education Guidance Team for elementary and junior high schools. The visit highlighted the unique features of the Feitsui Reservoir, distinguishing it from other reservoirs in Taiwan, and its vital role in supplying water to the Taipei area. The visit also offered insights into the reservoir’s contributions to local ecological preservation, wildlife conservation efforts, and environmental education initiatives. These achievements reflect the SDG 6.6 subtarget of “protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems,” underscoring the importance of maintaining the balance between water resource management and ecological sustainability.
The Feitsui Reservoir was constructed to address the frequent flooding along the Xindian River caused by typhoons and heavy rains, as well as to meet the growing demand for stable water resources driven by Taipei area urban development. The Beishi River, with its abundant water flow, was chosen as the ideal site for the reservoir, specifically the Feitsui Valley, which inspired the reservoir’s name.
Feitsui Reservoir holds historical significance as Taiwan’s first large-scale arch dam designed and constructed entirely by local experts, marking a groundbreaking achievement in the nation’s engineering capabilities. Today, it plays a critical role in supplying water to approximately 6 million residents of the Taipei area. Actually, 97% domestic water of Taipei area is from Xindian River. Priority is given to the Nanshi River, with the Feitsui Reservoir supplementing supply when needed. The reservoir provides 2.5 to 2.7 million tons of water daily, serving all of Taipei City and parts of New Taipei City. It also supports the Taiwan Water Corporation’s water supply for additional areas in New Taipei City, ensuring a stable water source for northern Taiwan.
Through long-term conservation efforts, Feitsui Reservoir and its surrounding areas have become a high-quality water resources, well-preserved forests, and diverse wildlife. To promote environmental education, several learning facilities have been established, including the Water Resource Ecological Education Hall, and specialized gardens such as the Fern Garden, Frog Garden, and Butterfly Garden. The Feitsui Reservoir Environmental Learning Center achieved a significant milestone in 2011 when it became the first government institution to be certified as an environmental education facility.
The visit included tours of Yellow-margined box turtle(Cuora flavomarginata) Conservation Shelter, Emerald green treefrog(Rhacophorus smaragdinus) Conservation Area, and the Fern Garden, providing participants with an in-depth understanding of the ecological preservation efforts within the reservoir. The event also featured Professor Kuang-Yang Lue from NTNU, the discoverer of the Emerald green treefrog, who shared his expertise and insights, enriching the academic depth of the activity and highlighting the importance of preserving the region’s unique biodiversity.
The visit continued at the Water Resource Ecological Education Hall, where participants experienced the intelligent navigation system and a variety of interactive learning tools. Highlights of the Virtual Reality (VR) experience and an interactive touch wall showcasing the Xindian River Basin. The VR experience utilized innovative four-sided immersive projection technology and 360-degree filming, allowing visitors to marvel at the breathtaking landscapes of the reservoir from a first-person perspective. The touch wall provided an engaging way to explore the entire river ecosystem. By simply touching the display, participants could access detailed explanations, making the learning experience both informative and captivating.
The visit concluded with the impressive Feitsui Dam, a towering structure standing 122.5 meters high with a crest length of 510 meters. The Feitsui Reservoir, with a total capacity of 406 million cubic meters, is Taiwan’s second-largest reservoir. Despite this achievement, Taiwan faces significant water resource challenges. As one of the top 20 water-scarce countries globally, Taiwan struggles with uneven rainfall distribution and steep terrain, causing water storage difficult. This issue is particularly pronounced in the densely populated western region, which hosts 95 of the country’s reservoirs but frequently experiences insufficient water levels. This highlights Taiwan’s critical “water retention dilemma.”
The availability of stable and clean water in Taipei is a rare privilege, made possible through the dedicated efforts of numerous organizations and individuals. These include the Feitsui Reservoir Administration, Taipei Water Department, and Taipei Water Source Special District Management Office, comprising about 1,500 personnel. Even during severe typhoons, they must stuck to their posts to ensure the safety and stable supply of water.
SDG6 is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation facilities. The visit offered an in-depth look into the water source protection and ecological conservation efforts at Feitsui Reservoir, aligning closely with SDG 14 (Life Below Water), which emphasizes the importance of improving water quality. Through water quality testing and an automated monitoring network, can effectively monitoring river and reservoir water quality, reduce the impact on aquatic ecosystems.
The project brought together experts, scholars, environmental education teachers from primary and secondary schools, and higher education institutions to collaborate on the theme of “Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6).” The program featured a comprehensive water resource environmental education tour, covering the entire water source protection area—from the management of upstream reservoirs, to water purification at water treatment plants, and sewage treatment plant. This exploration fostered deeper insights into the conservation of water source protection areas, water treatment processes, and wastewater management, all while contributing to the promotion of SDG6 and ensuring the sustainable use and protection of river and reservoir resources. Ultimately, this initiative aims to preserve aquatic ecosystems and enhance water resource sustainability.
The members composed of experts and scholars, universities, colleges and environmental education teachers in primary schools participating in the cooperation.