5.2 Water Resource Management and Water Quality Testing
In the context of escalating global climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, water resource management has become a critical issue for the operational resilience and environmental sustainability of medical institutions. A stable water supply significantly impacts medical quality, infection control, and patient safety. Therefore, integrating water resource management into the sustainability framework is essential to develop a water management system that ensures both safety and efficiency through stable water supply, improved efficiency, recycling and reuse, and risk adaptation.
Our hospital’s water supply system follows a dual-track model, utilizing both tap water and groundwater. Tap water is primarily used for medical and domestic purposes, while groundwater is reserved for non-potable uses such as cleaning and toilet flushing to reduce reliance on tap water. The hospital campus is equipped with 12 water storage tanks and water towers. Based on meter readings, the estimated average daily water consumption is approximately 400 cubic meters, which can sustain basic operations for about two days. This capacity effectively enhances the hospital’s response capability during water outages or emergencies. To ensure water quality and safety, the hospital conducts annual groundwater testing and has established a water supply interruption contingency plan, along with an emergency water transfer mechanism, to strengthen supply resilience in the face of climate change.
Regarding water-saving measures
Since 2015, the hospital has fully implemented water-saving certified sanitary equipment in all new construction and renovation projects. This includes sensor-activated water-saving faucets, low-flow flush toilets, and flow regulation devices at water outlets. Older equipment is being gradually replaced to reduce water use intensity per unit. On the clinical side, water use optimization management is promoted, such as the centralized recovery and reuse of wastewater generated by the dialysis reverse osmosis (RO) system for irrigation and cleaning purposes. New buildings are equipped with rainwater storage facilities for campus irrigation. Additionally, groundwater is used to substitute part of the flushing water demand, increasing the proportion of non-potable water use and establishing a recycling model. Through simultaneous equipment optimization and reuse, the hospital has effectively controlled water consumption growth while maintaining an increased volume of medical services. In 2025, water consumption was 73,768 cubic meters (73.768 million liters), a 6.17% decrease compared to 78,618 cubic meters (78.618 million liters) in 2024. The storage tank capacity increased from 800 tons in 2024 to 1,200 tons in 2025, providing better regulation and temporary storage capacity, which reduced the frequency of wastewater discharge.
To enhance management accuracy, the hospital has implemented a zoned and classified water monitoring system that regularly analyzes water meter readings and compares anomalies. Review and improvement measures are discussed during management meetings. Smart water meters are installed at main water inlets, and leak detection devices are deployed in critical areas. Data integration and real-time alerts are managed through a centralized monitoring platform. When abnormal flow or pressure changes are detected, investigation and repair processes are promptly initiated. Additionally, technologies such as infrared thermal imaging, ultrasonic flow analysis, and acoustic localization are combined to improve the detection of hidden pipelines. An inspection and maintenance record system has been established to minimize the risk of hidden leaks and prevent resource wastage.
Hospital Water Resource Usage Statistics for 2023–2025
| Year | Unit | Year 2023 | Year 2024 | Year 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Intake Volume | million liters | 80.351 | 78.618 | 73.768 |
| Water Discharge Volume | million liters | 70.102 | 38.636 | 42.718 |
| Water Consumption Volume | million liters | 10.249 | 39.982 | 31.050 |
| Floor area | m2 | 55,485 | 55,485 | 55,485 |
| Water usage density | million liters/m² | 0.000185 | 0.000721 | 0.000560 |
Notes
- Water intake volume is calculated based on the water meter readings of the hospital’s tap water inflow, while drainage volume is determined from the recorded meter readings at the hospital’s sewage treatment plant.
- Water consumption = Water intake volume minus drainage volume.
- Considering decimal precision, water usage intensity is calculated using liters as the unit for water intake volume.
Water Quality Testing
The hospital’s water quality testing laboratory is responsible for analyzing drinking water for military units, including the National Army’s Fifth Operational Zone, outlying island areas, and naval vessels. It is dedicated to providing impartial, accurate, and reliable water quality testing services to ensure the safety and health of military personnel. To support sustainable development, the hospital incorporates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into the laboratory management system. By employing rigorous quality management protocols, advanced testing techniques, and continuous improvement initiatives, the laboratory enhances testing efficiency and service quality, establishing a testing service system that protects public health and promotes sustainability.
The hospital established the Water Quality Testing Laboratory in January 2020, located on the first floor of the Water Quality Testing and Environmental Protection Complex Building at the National Army Taichung General Hospital. To ensure that testing quality meets national standards, the laboratory obtained certification from the Environmental Protection Administration’s National Environmental Research Institute as an environmental testing and measurement institution in August 2020. This certification has been renewed and remains valid until August 2030, maintaining its status as a certified testing institution.
Currently, the laboratory is authorized to test the following items:
- Total Colony Count (for water supply networks with disinfection systems): Testing method for total colony count in water – mixed dilution method (NIEA E204).
- Coliform Bacteria: Testing method for coliform bacteria in drinking water – membrane filtration method (NIEA E230).
To ensure the effective operation of the quality management system and the reliability of test results, the National Environmental Research Institute of the Environmental Protection Administration conducts irregular inspections and blind sample tests at the laboratory annually. These activities verify testing capabilities and quality management performance, ensuring the laboratory maintains a report accuracy rate exceeding 95%. Additionally, the laboratory holds regular annual management review meetings, during which senior management evaluates the implementation of the quality management system, testing performance, and improvement measures, continuously promoting system refinement and risk control.
Regarding the Management of Drinking Water Safety
The hospital conducts testing operations in accordance with relevant regulations and testing standards. When test results exceed drinking water standards (total colony count > 100 CFU/ml, coliform bacteria > 6 CFU/100 ml), an abnormal control mechanism is activated, requiring the non-compliant unit to complete corrective actions and undergo retesting. The unit is removed from monitoring only after confirming that water quality has returned to standard levels. Through a comprehensive testing, monitoring, and follow-up management system, the hospital effectively reduces the risk of drinking water contamination, thereby safeguarding the safety and health rights of military personnel and related users.
In the future, the hospital will continue to advance water quality testing technology, strengthen quality management systems, and improve testing service efficiency. It will fulfill its responsibility for drinking water safety management by adopting scientific, institutionalized, and sustainable management models to safeguard water resources and promote the achievement of public health and sustainable development goals.
Water Quality Testing Service Volume for 2025
| Total number of items | Number of qualified items | Number of unqualified items | Qualification rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3252 | 3183 | 69 | 97.9% |