In central Taiwan, according to an EPA (Environmental Protection Administration) inspector Chiang Chu nung in current years the EPA has done regular inspections on the more than100 factories of electro-plating in the county’s coastal area, finding heavy metals like chromium, cadmium, copper, nickel, & zinc in wastewater there.

In Changhua County, irrigation water’s quality improved greatly resulting from frequent inspection of wastewater in factories and imposing penalties by authorities.

Major losses have borne in agriculture sector due to heavy metals coming from wastewater of factories. Some years ago Oyster farms & rice paddies were polluted a lot.

According to Chiang, during 2004 – 2008 period, in irrigation water, the qualification range has gone up from 33% to 73%.

If any factory found to be breaking the regulations of anti-water pollution will be charged NT$60,000,