Water Pollution Control

Water pollution control in campus area

The prevention of water pollution by NCYU follows the "Water Pollution Control Act" (additional link 1) formulated by the Environmental Protection Administration. NCYU is responsible for the conservation and management of lakes and forests on campus, therefore, the production, treatment, recycling and discharge of sewage are strictly carried out in accordance with regulations.  Regarding water pollution control in campus areas, Chiayi University follows the guidelines listed below for the prevention of water pollution:

1. Water Quality Inspection: National Chiayi University's drinking water, in accordance with the regulations established by  Ministry of Education, has its water dispensers serviced once a month.  The devices are inspected and the filters replaced. Once every season, a TAF-certified entity conducts a water quality test, with the mandated testing item being coliform bacteria. Agricultural wastewater, in addition to being largely recycled and reused, is required by the Environmental Protection Agency to undergo testing before discharge. The testing parameters include Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), suspended solids, conductivity, heavy metals and ammonia content. The quality of the water recycled from general wastewater is also tested once every season. The testing is carried out by the Inspection Technology Center located in the  Biotechnology Health Building on campus.

2. Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Ensure there are appropriate wastewater treatment facilities within the campus, especially in places where chemicals or other pollutants might be discharged, such as laboratories. This specific implementation of this part is fully described in the section, "Water (WR)". 

3. Stormwater Management: Implement effective stormwater management strategies to prevent rainwater from carrying away pollutants.  

In the planning and construction throughout the campus, there are ecological ponds and rain gardens within the campus to capture and filter stormwater allowing it to permeate underground rather than flow into stormwater drains. Permeable pavements allow water to infiltrate and be absorbed by the ground, reducing surface runoff. There are 9 detention basins that can collect and store stormwater. Vegetative filter strips slow down stormwater flow causing pollutants to settle and be absorbed by plants. The rainwater retention system collects rainwater for cleaning and irrigation. The university regularly cleans the drains, water towers, and desilts the detention ponds every year. Detailed descriptions of the above facilities are provided in the "Setting & Infrastructure (SI)" section.

4. Campus Community Education: National Chiayi University offers general education courses on environmental education and also provides community adult education-related courses. These programs enhance the understanding of sustainability for faculty, staff, and community members, and translate this knowledge into practical actions in daily life.

5. Proper Handling of Hazardous Substances: Ensure hazardous substances, especially chemicals from laboratories, are properly managed and prevented from entering the water system.  This specific implementation of this part is fully described in the section, "Waster (WS)". 

6. Emergency Response Plan: National Chiayi University has designated professionals and response plans in place for the use and disaster management of various toxic and concerning chemicals or toxic substance. The university collaborates with nearby units of similar attributes to form a joint defense organization. Each year, they take turns hosting disaster response drills to prevent incidents and further enhance emergency response capabilities.

7. Infrastructure Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain water-related infrastructure on campus.  The tasks in this section are carried out annually by the General Affairs Office's Maintenance Division, which conducts regular inspections and maintenance.

8. Collaboration with Local Authorities: Collaborate with local water resource management agencies to ensure the campus' water pollution control strategies align with local regulations and best practices.  In cooperation with the Chiayi City Government Environmental Protection Bureau and the Water Supply Management Office to understand the latest water conservation technologies and related pollution prevention facilities and educational training.

9. Review of Policies and Procedures: The related pollution prevention policies are reviewed by the responsible unit, the Environmental Protection and Safety Management Center, which convenes a committee meeting every semester to review related issues and measures as the basis for the water policy of the following year.

The items and frequency of water source protection are shown in the table below: