Building upon the team’s research findings, this project jointly produced the policy white paper The Weight of a Thousand Mouthfuls of Water (Draft), which proposes five strategic action pillars:
- Scientific Monitoring and Data Transparency
- Legal Reform and Implementation
- Watershed Co-Governance and Infrastructure Enhancement
- Drinking Water Safety and Risk Management
- Public Engagement and Education Promotion
These five pillars together form a systematic pathway for watershed governance in Taiwan, advancing from risk recognition to cultural co-governance, and shaping a policy evolution chain from “symptomatic treatment” to “root-cause solutions.”
The underlying governance logic can be summarized into three major transformations:
1. From “Symptomatic Treatment” to “Root-Cause Solutions”: Science and Regulation as the Core
In the past, environmental governance often relied on reactive enforcement and temporary responses, failing to prevent long-term pollution accumulation.
The Scientific Monitoring pillar exposes the real extent of pollution, while Legal Support integrates these findings into the regulatory framework—forming a closed loop from data to decision-making. This approach establishes a new norm of preventive monitoring and institutionalized governance.
2. From “Single Point” to “Watershed”: Integrated, Holistic Management
Traditional approaches focused on isolated discharge points or localized issues, resulting in fragmented governance between upstream and downstream areas.
The Watershed Co-Governance pillar emphasizes managing by watershed units, integrating water quantity, water quality, and ecological indicators. Through coordination between central and local authorities, third-party verification, and infrastructure improvement, this approach strengthens both environmental quality and system resilience.
3. From “Departmental” to “Societal”: Civic Co-Governance and Cultural Transformation
Environmental governance is not solely the responsibility of the government; it requires collective social participation.
The Health Protection pillar translates policy outcomes into tangible public safety guarantees, while the Public Engagement pillar promotes co-learning and cooperation through education, open data, and citizen-based monitoring. Together, they nurture a long-term culture of watershed stewardship and societal resilience.
Summary Table of the Five Strategic Pillars
Implementation Background
The core ideas of this white paper were first presented at the “Consultative Meeting on Upstream Drainage Interception for Drinking Water Intakes” in April 2025, which facilitated collaboration among the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources Agency, and local governments on developing “Dedicated Demonstration Sections” and a “Dry–Wet Weather Diversion System.”
This outcome demonstrates that university-based research can not only generate data but also drive institutional transformation, establishing a new paradigm of civic co-governance and evidence-based environmental policy.