The Taipei City Government said it has completed a campaign aimed at improving the quality of the city’s hot-spring providers, making sure that all the facilities meet safety standards.
Of the 592 hot-spring facilities checked last month, 35 were found to be offering substandard services, but have since made improvements in line with the required health standards, city officials said.
The main problem with the substandard facilities was excessive levels of bacteria in the water, Division for Disease Control and Prevention Director Chen Shao-ching (陳少卿) said.
The problems have been resolved, Chen added.
Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations and greatest variety of thermal springs in the world, with its position alongside an oceanic trench said to be the source of the activity, along with the nation’s volcanism and tectonic activity.
There are more than 100 thermal springs in the nation, ranging from hot springs to cold springs, mud springs and salt water hot springs.
Taiwan began its annual hot-spring festival — the Taiwan Hot Spring and Fine Cuisine Carnival — on Tuesday last week, with events planned across the nation over the four-month-long period to promote 19 hot-spring areas in Taiwan.
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