Typhoon Bavi Approaches with Force! Water Resources Agency Mobilizes for Typhoon Preparedness: Flood Control Relies on Close Central-Local Cooperation

To prepare for heavy rains potentially brought by Typhoon Bavi, the Water Resources Agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has fully mobilized its personnel to conduct typhoon preparedness inspections in Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City, focusing on the Greater Taipei area. From the Dahan Creek and Xindian Creek to the Keelung River, officials conducted on-site inspections of sluice gates, pumping stations, movable barriers, and mobile pumping units, confirming that all equipment is functioning properly. The Agency emphasized that flood control in Greater Taipei relies on sustained and close cooperation between central and local authorities, requiring real-time meteorological updates and shared hydrological data. Response measures will be activated according to the typhoon’s trajectory to safeguard lives and property.

During the inspection, the Agency issued warnings regarding the ongoing Taiping Levee construction project on the Xindian Creek. It instructed the 10th River Management Office to ensure contractors evacuate personnel, machinery, and materials from the construction site before the typhoon arrives. On-site container houses must be reinforced with anchor bolts and ropes. The Agency also reminded management units to replace aging components such as oil level gauges, fuel lines, and electrical wiring in older sluice gates and pumping stations if signs of deterioration, rust, or brittleness are found. For movable barriers, advance public notifications must be issued according to regulations, and warning lights and buzzers must function properly during operation. Personnel must be assigned to manage traffic and ensure public safety.

To ensure stable water supply during storms, Taiwan Water Corporation has deployed over 1,000 personnel for emergency preparations. Nationwide, raw and distribution water reservoirs have been pre-filled to high levels, with total reserves reaching 4.8 million tons. Sufficient water treatment chemicals are stockpiled to respond immediately to sudden increases in raw water turbidity. In terms of power and mobility, all 562 emergency generators across Taiwan have been inspected, maintained, and tested to ensure pumping and water treatment systems remain operational during power outages. Additionally, 62 water trucks have been deployed for rapid response to areas experiencing sudden water shortages. The Corporation has fully mobilized 324 contracted repair companies (1,247 personnel) and 1,519 internal staff to remain on standby, strengthening both water supply stability and emergency repair capacity.

To address potential high turbidity in raw water caused by heavy rainfall, Taiwan Water Corporation has established regional contingency plans. In the Kaohsiung area, the Nanhua Interconnection Pipeline will be used to flexibly increase water supply, and subsurface water intake systems at Xingtian, Xipu, and Daquan will be activated. For the Hualien area, due to potential risks from a landslide-dammed lake upstream of the Wanli River, the Ninth District Management Office has pre-deployed flood sandbags at downstream water treatment plants and completed backup water supply arrangements. All ongoing construction projects (e.g., the seawater desalination plant pipeline project in Tainan) have reinforced facilities according to site-specific conditions to prevent surface water intrusion into excavation areas, and have implemented machinery evacuation and traffic maintenance measures. Green energy facilities, including solar power and small hydropower systems, have also completed typhoon preparedness assessments.