To enhance the ability of environmental agencies to respond to river pollution emergencies, from 18-19 Jan 2022 the EPA held the “River Pollution Emergency Response Study and Training Workshop” in which relevant central and local agencies participated. In the workshop, participants from industry, government, academia and environmental competent authorities shared and discussed regulations and practical emergency responses to strengthen professional knowledge required for response operations.   

The study and training workshop contained courses such as explanation of relevant water pollution prevention and control regulations, water pollution and ecology, practical response experiences of government agencies and private enterprises, sources and characteristics of river pollution, application of on-site decontamination equipment training, response principles and strategies, group case exercises and studies. In addition to domestic speakers, international response experts from the Centre of Documentation Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (Cedre) of France, were also invited to give lectures through video conferencing. The EPA has sent personnel many times to Cedre in France to participate in professional training regarding pollution response and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cedre in 2016. To date, both agencies continue to deepen cooperation on river pollution response issues.

Rivers are important natural resources in Taiwan. In addition to strengthening legal controls and promoting various water pollution prevention and control measures, environmental agencies have diligently prepared and trained to respond to significant pollution incidents.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, February 2022