After decades of clean-up efforts, Taipei’s Danshui River boasts a level of aquatic biodiversity not seen in 30 years, according to the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration Nov. 11.
“Improved water quality has resulted in higher aquatic biodiversity,” the EPA said, adding that the number of fish species in the river increased from 56 in 1986 to 89 in 2009.
Transformation of the once heavily polluted river began in 1988 with a three-stage program. A key improvement under this initiative was the establishment of four sewage treatment plants across the Taipei region capable of handling 2 million metric tons of wastewater per day.
The river is now fringed by 40 parks covering a total area of 1,300 hectares, the equivalent of four New York Central Parks, the EPA added.
The 158.7-kilometer Danshui River, the third longest in Taiwan, flows through Taipei City, Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Keeling City and Hsinchu County. (HZW)
Write to Kwangyin Liu at kwangyin.liu@mail.gio.gov.tw