Taiwan Looks To Balance Chips and Water Conservation

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor sector demands vast amounts of water, but the supply of fresh water is limited. In 2022, Taipei households used more water per capita than any other capital city worldwide. Now, companies like TSMC say they are investing in wastewater recycling, while environment officials are also looking for ways to reuse wastewater.

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00:00Water. It's the source of much of Taiwan's natural beauty. But Taiwan's water usage

00:08is also a major challenge. In 2022, Taipei households used more water per capita than

00:14any other capital city in the world. And water is also crucial for Taiwan's most important

00:20industry, semiconductors. Chip factories are the largest source of industrial water usage

00:28in Taiwan. They also produce vast amounts of waste water, containing elements such

00:33as cobalt, copper and hydrofluoric acid. Taiwan's largest chip maker, TSMC, says it's working

00:40to improve its waste water recycling, even at a cost.

00:44The Shenzhou Science Park, where TSMC is headquartered, say they too are working to

01:01improve standards.

01:13The country's Environment Ministry is also looking for ways to make better use of waste

01:17water.

01:24Taiwan's water consumption is only expected to increase over the next few years, as officials

01:30and industries attempt to find a balance between conservation and economic growth.

01:35John Su and Chris Gorin for Taiwan Plus.

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