Project Overview
In recent years, global climate change has led to more frequent droughts and floods, creating new challenges for Taiwan’s water demands. With limited sites available for new reservoir development in Taiwan, it’s difficult to fully address water resource management needs caused by climate impacts. Consequently, groundwater has been proposed as an underground reservoir concept. Through efficient monitoring of groundwater extraction volumes and natural recharge rates, along with tracking long-term groundwater level trends, this approach enables effective groundwater resource utilization while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Taoyuan City hosts over 30 industrial parks with an industrial output of nearly NT$3 trillion, the highest in Taiwan. As of October 2023, Taoyuan City’s total allocated water rights reached 200 million tons annually, with industrial and other groundwater uses accounting for 150 million and 30 million tons respectively, approximately 93% of total water rights. Thus, groundwater resources play a crucial role in Taoyuan’s industrial, commercial, and economic development.
Recently, with the rapid development of big data applications, Internet of Things (IoT), and wireless transmission technologies, creating water resource-sustainable smart cities has become a key international trend. Taoyuan City has consistently demonstrated strong commitment to sustainable water resource management. Since 2020, the city has established a real-time groundwater monitoring network and gradually developed a smart groundwater management platform to monitor major water users’ actual consumption. Through smart metering equipment and platforms, the city strives to track citywide groundwater usage information to promote sustainable groundwater resource development.
Implementation Benefits
(1) IoT-Based Water Rights Management
- Guided water rights holders to install IoT smart metering equipment, enabling authorities to monitor over 70% of Taoyuan City’s allocated groundwater rights.
- Significantly improved groundwater management efficiency, allowing a single staff member to monitor water usage of nearly 1,400 water rights holders citywide through the platform. The platform facilitates water rights verification processes, on-site inspections, and monitoring of groundwater availability changes across administrative districts, optimizing operational procedures for agency staff.
- Monitors 36 Water Resources Agency groundwater observation wells, incorporating artificial intelligence for long-term groundwater level prediction, serving as a reference during drought periods while considering sustainable groundwater development issues.
- As of October 2023, 642 smart meters have been installed for major water users, achieving an 84.9% installation rate. The installation rate is expected to reach 90% by the end of 2024, monitoring 76.8% of allocated water rights.
- As of the end of October 2023, a total of 642 smart water metering devices have been installed for major water users, achieving an installation rate of 84.9%. By the end of 2024, the installation rate is expected to reach 90%, covering 76.8% of the allocated water rights volume.
- During the centennial drought in 2021, this system demonstrated its capability to provide decision-making support. During the drought, it alleviated reservoir water supply pressure by prioritizing the use of groundwater. Even with Shimen Reservoir’s water storage capacity at 7%, Taoyuan City managed to maintain water supply under the reduced pressure “yellow light” phase without implementing zoned water supply. Similarly, Taichung City and Kaohsiung City adopted the groundwater management strategy of this system during water shortages in 2023.
(2) Convenient Services for Water Rights Holders
- The platform provides real-time notifications on the operational status of water facilities, reducing manual inspection time by 85%.
- Automatic notifications are sent to water rights holders three months before the expiration of their rights, enabling timely preparation for extensions and avoiding disruptions to business operations.
- The platform assists all water rights holders in automatically reporting water usage, allowing authorities to monitor water consumption data in real time.
(3) Sustainable Groundwater Development
- Ensuring Safe Water Extraction: The system ensures sustainable extraction rates, preventing over-extraction that leads to groundwater depletion, seawater intrusion, land subsidence, and environmental degradation.
- Smart Monitoring and Predictive Measures: Using data from smart water meters combined with AI modeling, authorities can identify excessive water users three months in advance and implement appropriate measures. This also enables proactive drought response strategies, preventing overuse and depletion of groundwater resources, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
- Awareness and Outreach: By 2023, 15 promotional seminars and 1 results presentation and symposium were held to advocate smart groundwater management. Related promotional materials and videos were also produced.
- Public Education via Social Media: Educational campaigns on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and the groundwater management portal have been conducted to raise awareness among the public. These efforts aim to encourage water rights holders to adopt IoT smart water metering devices and to emphasize the importance of sustainable groundwater development.