Applications of Membrane Technologies for Water Treatment In Taiwan

Though Taiwan's annual rainfall is about 3.5 times more than the average annual rainfall of the world, Taiwan is still categorized by the United Nations with water shortage problems. The main reason is the uneven rainfall in Taiwan: nearly 80 percent of precipitation falls in between May and October, and water is difficult to retain in rivers because of the dramatic topographical changes. To sustain the water supply in Taiwan, several membrane desalination and water-treatment units have been set up in recent years. Also, increasing research interest has been drawn to this topic. In this presentation, we will discuss the recent applications of membrane technologies in desalination, drinking-water treatment, and wastewater treatment in Taiwan.