Water conservation program and implementation

Rainwater storage tanks for irrigation of plants and water circulation of ecological pond 

Rain water harvest system 

Utilizing recycled water for landscape irrigation and campus street cleaning (Approximately 2,500 metric tons utilized in 2025).  

The system uses Rain/Reclaimed water for Toilet Flushing 

Operating livestock wastewater treatment facilities to recycle water for barn cleaning, with approximately 3,000 metric tons of digestate applied as farmland fertilizer.  

 “Building of smart water resource management and innovative water-saving technology” 

“Discovering Chiayi”  Campus Tour - Renewable Energy Smart Water Resources and Ecological Courses (Link 1) 

Description: 

NCYU has established a comprehensive and formalized Water Conservation Program under the Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Management Committee. The program integrates policy development, infrastructure improvement, water recycling, smart monitoring, implementation assessment, and environmental education to ensure sustainable water resource management across all campuses. To reduce dependence on municipal water supplies, NCYU has implemented rainwater harvesting systems, reclaimed water recycling facilities, livestock wastewater reuse systems, groundwater management, and detention ponds for rainwater storage. Reclaimed water is widely utilized for landscape irrigation, road cleaning, toilet flushing, livestock house washing, and ecological pond replenishment. Through these integrated measures, NCYU significantly reduces its dependence on municipal water supplies, with more than 50% of campus water demand supported through water conservation, reuse, rainwater harvesting, reclaimed water utilization, and alternative water resources. To further improve water efficiency, NCYU developed the “Building of Smart Water Resource Management and Innovative Water-Saving Technology” project with support from the Water Resources Agency. The university installed 88 smart water meters and 3 pressure sensors, all connected to a real-time monitoring platform that detects abnormal consumption and leakage via automated alerts, enabling rapid response and continuous improvement. 

The university currently maintains 161 water storage tanks, 11 groundwater wells, and 10 detention ponds for water storage, reuse, and emergency water supply. In addition, rainwater harvesting systems, reclaimed water treatment facilities, and livestock wastewater recycling systems are operated to support irrigation, cleaning operations, toilet flushing, ecological pond replenishment, and agricultural applications. These initiatives demonstrate NCYU’s long-term commitment to sustainable water management, climate resilience, and resource conservation. These initiatives contribute directly to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).   

The water conservation program and implementation are described as follows: 

Water Conservation Program: 

1. Purpose and Goals 

• Effective water conservation, storage, and smart water usage and management. 

• Integration of these concepts and behaviors into education and daily life practice. 

2. Water Usage Audit 

• All buildings have a separate wastewater system. 

• Rainwater harvesting systems are in place in most buildings, with recycled water used for various purposes, including irrigation, flushing toilets, washing vehicles, cleaning solar panels, watering livestock, washing utensils, and watering plants. 

3. Education and Awareness 

• Integration of water conservation and smart water usage into educational courses “Discovering Chiayi.”(Link 1) 

• Collaboration with other water utilities to embed water-saving behaviors in daily life. 

4. Technological and Equipment Upgrades 

• Installation of digital communication modules for water meters. 

• Water level detectors for water storage towers. 

• Digital water meters will be installed at the water intake of each building. 

• Improvement in groundwater well management. 

• Efficient appliance usage - the traditional general faucet of the washstand is replaced with an automatic, sensory and low-flow type faucet.   The urinal flushing in men’s and handicapped toilets is equipped with sensor flushers, and most toilets for women are equipped with a two-stage flushing device. 

5. Recycling and Reuse 

• NCYU operates an integrated water reuse network comprising 161 water storage tanks, 11 groundwater wells, rainwater harvesting systems, reclaimed water treatment facilities, livestock wastewater recycling facilities, and 10 detention ponds distributed across its campuses.  These facilities provide alternative water resources for irrigation, toilet flushing, ecological ponds, road cleaning, livestock house washing, and emergency water supply. 

• Rainwater is harvested, stored, and recycled for multiple uses.  The rainwater retention system can store 147 tons of rainwater. The sewage treatment plant can process 9 tons of wastewater daily, and the reclaimed water is used to flush animal houses and irrigate plants.   

• Flood detention ponds serve dual functions of flood mitigation and water conservation. Collected rainwater is reused for landscape irrigation, ecological water replenishment, and emergency water storage. 

• NCYU also operates livestock wastewater treatment facilities that recycle treated water for barn cleaning and agricultural applications, demonstrating a circular water management approach that links livestock production with resource conservation.  In 2025, approximately 2,500 metric tons of reclaimed water were used for purposes such as irrigating campus plants and cleaning campus roads. 

6. Policies and Regulations 

• The Energy Saving Promotion Team executes the management and infrastructure establishment of water resources under the Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Management Committee. The committee meets once every semester to review all water-related issues and implement measures. The committee comprises administrative and primary supervisors.  The Energy Conservation Promotion Team is also responsible for drafting plans and seeking related projects. 

• The university has established a water resource management system. 

• The approach involves analyzing water usage, improving water-saving facilities, and eliminating the risk of water leakage. 

• The concept of water balance is adopted for effective management. 

Since 2021, NCYU has continuously upgraded its smart water resource management system through the “Building of Smart Water Resource Management and Innovative Water-Saving Technology” project. A total of 88 smart water meters and 3 pressure sensors have been installed and connected to an intelligent monitoring platform that detects abnormal water consumption and leakage via real-time alerts.  From 2022 to 2023, we installed 88 smart water meters and 3 water pressure meters on the Lantan Campus. Furthermore, an intelligent water resource management platform has been established. Through the water balance concept, this platform monitors the campus water resource system. The system can immediately alert administrators to anomalies, such as leaks, through mobile app and line notifications. This allows administrators to take action immediately. 

• All policies align with the Taiwan Water Resources Agency guidelines for higher education institutions. 

7. Monitoring and Evaluation 

• The university aims to use and cherish water resources wisely by managing and controlling water. 

• Ongoing assessment of water consumption patterns, leakage detection, facility performance, and continuous improvement measures through the smart water management platform.  Using the smart water resource management platform, users can access water usage data from various units and analyze overall water consumption. This serves as a basis for on-campus water resource management and helps formulate strategies. 

Implementation of Water Conservation Program: 

1. Organizational Structure and Responsibilities 

• The university is central in overseeing water conservation efforts and ensuring effective implementation. 

The University has established an energy-saving management committee comprising various administrative and academic heads. Under this committee, there is an energy-saving promotion team. The energy-saving promotion team oversees matters and the execution of plans related to energy conservation, carbon reduction, and water resource protection. 

2. Budget and Resources 

• Funds allocated for installing rainwater-harvesting systems, digital communication modules, and water-level detectors. 

Regarding water resource protection and management, the University established an energy-saving promotion team to draft plans and seek funding subsidies.  

3. Training and Technical Support 

• Emphasis on integrating water conservation into the educational curriculum. 

• Collaboration with external water utilities for knowledge exchange and support. 

We have formed alliances with National Sun Yat-sen University, National Cheng Kung University, Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and the Taipei Water Department. We regularly hold seminars to exchange knowledge and techniques about energy conservation, carbon reduction, and water resources. 

4. Communication, Evaluation and Revision 

• Regular updates and feedback mechanisms in place to ensure adequate water management. 

• Periodic review of the program's effectiveness and necessary revisions to ensure optimal water conservation. 

The energy-saving promotion team meets once every semester. They present reports on energy and water conservation-related topics and review the data and costs of water and electricity usage to optimize the implementation strategy for the coming year. 

5. Enhance Education 

In addition, NCYU promotes water-saving awareness through the micro-credit course “Discovering Chiayi”, which integrates renewable energy, smart water resources, and ecological sustainability into experiential learning. The combination of infrastructure, digital management, and education ensures that NCYU’s water conservation program remains comprehensive, adaptive, and sustainable through continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement, and water sustainability education.