Problem Awareness and Project Objectives
The Touwian Creek is the mother river of Hsinchu, nourishing the life on this land for a long time. However, with industrial development and urban expansion, Touwian Creek is facing dual threats of invisible pollution (such as industrial and domestic wastewater) and visible pollution (such as river garbage and waste). These pollutants not only poison the water quality and sediment but also pose a serious threat to the health and quality of life of local residents. In response to this challenge, this project aims to protect and restore the environment of Touwian Creek through the introduction of advanced technology and deep collaboration with the community, combining empirical research and competency education to promote the sustainability of environmental protection.
This project is committed not only to current environmental issues but also hopes to establish a sustainable watershed governance model through technological innovation and community participation, ensuring the long-term health and prosperity of the Touwian Creek watershed.
Project Implementation Strategies and Approaches
1. Technology Adoption:
This project will employ various technologies for pollution monitoring and analysis, including real-time water pollution detection, sediment bio-toxicity testing, river waste image recognition systems, drone monitoring, and big data analytics. These technologies will help us timely monitor and analyze pollution sources and provide accurate pollution warning systems by integrating multiple data sources. Technical details will include the design principles of water quality and sediment monitoring systems and the selection and application of technologies based on different pollutant characteristics.
2. Expanding Participation:
The project will establish the “Touwian Creek Industry-Government-Academia Governance Platform” to promote cross-departmental collaboration and public-private cooperation. The platform will regularly hold seminars, community meetings, and workshops, allowing local residents, businesses, and government agencies to jointly participate in the governance and protection of Touwian Creek. The project will outline how to drive community involvement, ensure the sustainability of participation, and address potential conflicts and challenges.
3. Environmental Guardianship:
The long-term goal is to protect and restore the freshwater ecosystem of the Touwian Creek watershed, including mountains, forests, water channels, farmland, and underground aquifers. The project will promote concrete policy measures, such as separating irrigation systems from wastewater discharge systems to reduce the impact of pollution sources on Touwian Creek. This part will include specific policy promotion plans, expected environmental improvement outcomes, and how to achieve overall watershed ecological protection through the collaborative efforts of technology and community.
4. Sustainable Education:
During the execution of the project, a “Greater Hsinchu Watershed School” will be developed concurrently, integrating knowledge related to the Touwian Creek watershed into the education system through curriculum design, teaching material development, and science exhibitions. The project team will support curriculum development through empirical research. The educational content will specifically cover areas such as environmental governance, watershed management, and technology application.
Expected Benefits and Key Performance Indicators
This project is expected to generate the following benefits, assessed through key performance indicators:
(1) Pollutant Data Collection and Analysis: Eight coastal sampling points will be selected during both wet and dry seasons to collect twelve sediment samples for heavy metal and organic compound analysis, forming a complete pollutant database.
(2) Development and Application of Water Quality Monitoring Technology: Develop and deploy miniaturized water quality analysis technology for rapid on-site measurements with minimal water sample volume, establishing a standardized process for water quality analysis.
(3) Establishment of River Waste Image Database: Build a real-time image monitoring and AI recognition system to quickly detect abnormal pollution situations and immediately notify relevant units for processing, forming an effective environmental management tool.
(4) Development and Application of Water Quality Early Warning System: Integrate monitoring system data to develop a water quality index prediction system, combined with sediment correlation analysis to provide accurate warnings for water quality indicators.
(5) Establish the “Touwian Creek Industry-Government-Academia Governance Platform” to promote cross-departmental collaboration and public-private cooperation.
(6) Promote concrete policy measures, such as the separation of drinking water systems, irrigation systems, and wastewater discharge systems, to reduce the impact of pollution sources on Touwian Creek.
(7) Continue river sustainability education: promote watershed issues into schools and classrooms.
(8) Through the “Greater Hsinchu Watershed School” forum and watershed learning成果展示, expand educational impact and enhance environmental literacy among students and community residents.
