By RK Shih / Staff
TAINAN — After more than two decades of sustained remediation, water quality across Tainan City’s six major rivers has improved significantly, with the total length of severely polluted river sections dropping to just under 20 kilometers in 2025.
City data shows the length of river segments classified as “severely polluted” declined from just over 33 kilometers in 2024 to about 19.5 kilometers in 2025, a reduction of nearly 14 kilometers in a single year.
The most dramatic improvement was recorded along the Yanshui River (鹽水溪), once informally known as the “Black Dragon River” due to long-standing pollution issues. By the end of last year, the remaining severely polluted stretch had been reduced to less than one kilometer, the lowest level since cleanup efforts began.
Environmental officials described the river as being in the “final mile” toward achieving zero severely polluted sections along its entire course.
Six Rivers, Measurable Progress
Tainan’s six major rivers, running north to south, are the Bazhang River (八掌溪), Jishui River (急水溪), Jiangjun River (將軍溪), Zengwen River (曾文溪), Yanshui River (鹽水溪), and Erren River (二仁溪). Together, they span more than 415 kilometers, with 44 water quality monitoring stations operated along them.
The top performer was the Zengwen River, which officials say is now essentially free of all severely polluted sections. The remaining five rivers continue to face challenges, though all showed improvement in 2025.
Fish Are Returning
Environmental officials said ecological recovery is now visible. A 2025 survey recorded 47 fish species, the highest number observed since monitoring began in 1996.
Hsu Jen-tse (許仁澤), director of the Tainan City Environmental Protection Bureau, said the improvements reflect long-term cooperation between government agencies and private stakeholders. He said the city will continue working toward its goal of eliminating all severely polluted river sections by 2030, fulfilling what officials describe as the vision of “clear water and returning fish.”
Source: The Liberty Times
