In order to improve water quality in rivers, seas, underground water, etc, ensure environmental quality, expand the river affinity space, maximize efficiency, and provide county residents with clean and natural ecologies, water quality monitoring, business pollution sources-system management and river patrol-business management are prioritized in order to create a better living environment.

• River Pollution: Treatment
  The short-term, middle-term and long-term objectives of the river pollution treatment in the county are: to achieve a ‘natural and clean living environment’; to create a ‘LOHO water affinity space’; and to realize a ‘living space surrounded by water.’
  Treatment Strategies and Approaches:

1. Uninterrupted Pollution Source Management, take sampling, and test industrial wastewater/sewage treatment facilities
2. Crack down and dismantle illegal embedded pipes
3. Assess functions of wastewater treatment facilities
4. Review and manage industrial unit permits
5. Seminar on Water Pollution Regulations
6. Conduct industrial project audit control
7. Execute ailed (dead) pig audit tasks
8. Livestock industry counseling

• Expand voluntary river patrol squad management and operation

1. Conduct river patrol promotion and river purifying activities
2. Conduct voluntary river patrol squad training
3. Conduct voluntary river patrol squad assessment
4. Set up a suitable communication platform and cooperation mechanism for counties, cities, departments and offices

1. Partake in the efforts by the river pollution treatment promotion team in Yunlin County
2. Manage the river pollution treatment promotion team in Yunlin County
3. Continue to promote sewerage facilities and Yunlin River pollution treatment works

1. Conduct Yunlin River sewerage interception engineering and sewerage system construction
2. Cooperate with EPA’s (Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan, ROC) 2009 domestic sewage pollution reduction and improvement plan
3. Promote Domestic sewage recycling, reutilization, and wastewater reduction at the source
4. Continue to assess, plan, and undertake on-site treatment

1. Yunlin cobble contact treatment and Yunlin riverbank water-affinity environment planning and detailed design
2. Beigang River on-site treatment
3.Hsinhuwei River on-site treatment
4. Manage and maintain the Oiaochen domestic sewage ecological park
5. Continue to promote water environment education promotion works

1. Conduct litter/waste removal and water environment improvement along the river bank and on the river
2. Press releases to implement related undertakings
3. Conduct large water environment promotion activities
4. Conduct river/stream purifying activities and preserve river bank landscape

• Ocean Pollution Prevention

  
  Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and animal husbandry are the backbone of Yunlin County’s economic structure. With the production output that tops the nation, the economic activities have also impacted the environment. The rivers administered by Central Government (Jhuoshui River, Beigang River) and the rivers administered by County Government (Xinhuwei River, Ma Gong Cuo Drainage, Ba Jiao Ting Drainage, Niu Tao Wan drainage) eventually discharge into the ocean.
  
  In addition, the four coastal areas, including Mailiao area (6^th LPG site), Haifeng area, Sihu Area and Kouhu area have been designated as offshore industrial zones under planning by the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Mailiao 6^th LPG Plan was approved by the EPA in 1992. In 1993, the landfill and plant construction commenced. Today, the 6^th LPG Plan has undergone four expansion changes with a total of NT$620 billion in investment: 14 companies have invested in plant construction, and the productivity of the 62 plants is about 61,980,000 tons/year. The wastewater treatment method of the plants in the 6^th LPG involves preprocessing the wastewater in each plant to meet the acceptance standards and send it to four comprehensive wastewater treatment plants in the Mailiao area and 5 in the Haifeng area. The 6^th LPG area is an industrial area of landfill, which is located about 4,000 meters from the coast.

  
  The wastewater discharging into the ocean was part of the planning upon approval in May, 1992. The channel measuring 9 meters in depth and 780 meters in length was chosen as the location for discharge and the wastewater (sewage) discharge permit was obtained by law.
  In order to establish coastal water background data and sea environment changes following the setup of the 6^th LPG Industrial Area, EPA assigned the bureau to execute ‘The Central and Western Coastal Water Environment Quality Monitoring Plan’ in order for the bureau to monitor the effects of industries, power plants, and river estuaries on the sea environment and propose response strategies needed to maintain environmental quality in the country. The monitoring results of the central and western waters (Hsinchu City, Miaoli County, Taichung County, Changhua County, Chiayi County) also serve as reference for the EPA.

  
  Other than strengthening the protection of sea water environments, relevant institutions are also requested to improve emergency response for ocean pollution. Therefore, the country holds regular ocean emergency response drills and ‘Ocean Pollution Prevention Act’ related seminars every year to integrate the relevant departments within its jurisdiction, allow the public to understand pertinent laws and regulations, cultivate the habit of protecting the ocean, and abide by related regulations.
  
  Seawater Monitoring
  
  ‘The Central and Western Coastal Water Environment Quality Monitoring Plan’ undertaken by the county from north to south covers: Tongsiao River in , Miaoli County, and Budai Port seawaters in Chiayi County. There are 19 testing stations in 5 counties and cities and the frequency and monitoring items include:
  
  Ecological survey:
  The survey items for the 1st and 4th quarter include: plant plankton, animal plankton, benthic organisms and chlorophyll.
  
  Water quality monitoring:
  On quarterly basis, the items to be surveyed are: salinity, hydrogen ion concentration index, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, phenols, total phosphorus, mineral oils, etc.
  
  Sediment survey:
  The survey items for the 1st and 4th quarter include: cadmium, lead, zinc, arsenic, mercury, total chromium, and copper.
  
  Brine micro-organisms monitoring survey:
  On quarterly basis, the survey items include: cyanide, Chlorobenzene compounds (Dichlorobenzene, Trichlorobenzene, Tetrachlorobenzene, Pentachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobenzene, and Hexachlorobutadiene), organic tin, N-phenol (no matter what base phenol), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds.
  
  Sediment micro-organisms monitoring survey:
  The survey items for the 1st and 4th quarter include:: particle size analysis, total organic matter, cadmium, lead, zinc, arsenic, mercury, total chromium, copper, Chlorobenzene compounds (dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, Tetrachlorobenzene, Pentachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobenzene, and Hexachlorobutadiene), organic tin, N-phenol (no matter what base phenol), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds.
  

Voluntary River Patrol Squad Management and Operation
The initial motives for establishing Voluntary River Patrol Squad, based on the lack of resources and manpower, are to organize the community adjacent to the river, make it the stronghold of pollution inspection, and further combine with man-power of EPA to construct a complete inspection network.

In reference to public participation in education promotion and environmental protection abroad, the Voluntary River Patrol Squad has integrated community care, public participation, academic knowledge, the Government mandate, media dissemination, and social contract.

2008 River Patrol Achievements:

A. Community Care Support:

1. The integration of communities (Hsiaotung community, Haikou community, Pima community) and transformation of Volunteer Squad to Voluntary River Patrol Squad have created high-quality community environment.
2. The Voluntary River Patrol Squads participated in 31 river-purifying activities in 2008.

B. Public Participation: active community organizations, environmental groups and other civil societies along the river bank were invited to participate.

1. Voluntary River Patrol Squad and Environmental Volunteer Squad Promotion Seminar was held on March 7th 2008.
2. World Earth Day activities were held on April 19th 2008.
3. Promotion activities on Water Quality Monitoring Day were held on September 27^th 2008.

C. Government Authorities

1. Patrol Squad records mess-points and informs the competent authorities to improve in order to achieve better results (63 mess-points were informed in 2008).
2. Mailiao Voluntary River Patrol Squad reported waste dumping Xinqi Section of Zhuoshui River; it was handled by EPA.
3. With resources offered by townships (city) offices, such as cleaning equipment and assistance in waste removal in target areas, the patrol squad operated more efficiently. The patrol squad and township (city) office are interdependent in maximizing effectiveness.

D. Academic Knowledge

1. With collaborated efforts from National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Voluntary River Patrol Squad training and water quality monitoring in practical illustrations were conducted.
2. On Water Quality Monitoring Day, illustrated water quality monitoring and dike-painting were conducted.
3. Classes (life and environmental protection) commencing at community colleges will elicit public concern for the living environment and cultivate elites that promote environmental protection.

E. Media Dissemination

1. Took the initiative to publish 26 Press Releases.
2. Visited YunChiaNan Radio Station to discuss river patrol and domestic sewage reduction related issues in order to promote environmental education and highlight the hard work of the Patrol Squad.
3. The Voluntary River Patrol Squad flag presentation ceremony in the agenda on Water Quality Monitoring Day symbolizes honor.
4. Linnei Voluntary River Patrol Squad was awarded the model river patrol squad in the central district. Also, relevant information about the patrol squad was published in the journal by EPA.

F. Social Monitoring Power

1. The factories reported to have been a source of pollution were fined and resumed operation after improvement had been made. In conjunction with the Six Stars Plan to promote the community-based Voluntary River Patrol Squad operation, the six aspects: ‘community care, public participation, academic knowledge, government authorities, media dissemination, and social monitoring’ were effectively utilized to strengthen public participation in public matters and mobilize the river patrol squad.
2. Linnei Voluntary River Patrol Squad was awarded as the model squad in the central district. Relevant information was published in the journal of EPA.
3. Currently, 16 Voluntary River Patrol Squads consisting of 493 members have been setup. As compared to 2007, there are 7 additional squads this year. Each squad has setup regional routes for regular patrol.