A push by the government to develop recycled water is expected to create NT$150 billion (US$4.46 billion) worth of business opportunities in Taiwan by 2031, according to an estimate of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The ministry said that the central government is planning to launch a pilot program to build six recycled water plants as a model for the private sector to follow. The projects to build the plants have been approved by the Executive Yuan.
In addition, the local governments and private corporations are expected to make their own efforts to develop recycled water, the ministry added.
The massive efforts to be made by the government and companies are expected to produce 1.32 million tonnes of recycled water a day by 2031 and could bring in a total of NT$150 billion in business opportunities, the ministry said.
Currently, Taiwan produces only 420,000 tonnes of recycled water a day.
The ministry said that the six water plants planned by the Cabinet will cost about NT$50 billion, and the local governments and the private sector are expected to invest an additional NT$100 billion to bring the total to NT$150 billion in business opportunities resulting from recycled water development.
The Legislative Yuan passed the Reclaimed Water Resources Development Act (再生水資源發展條例) in December last year, and the law has been promulgated and has come into effect.
The ministry said that it will complete supplementary regulations to the act in July at the earliest to facilitate the pace in the development of recycled water.
It said that some local governments and water treatment firms have expressed an interest in joining forces with the ministry to develop recycled water, and the supplementary regulations will help the government push for the initiatives to do so.
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