Ta Ya's water resource management strategy includes water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and water conservation. Through water resource management efforts, the Group's water withdrawal from municipal potable water was reduced by 3.94% in 2022 compared to 2021. Ta Ya will continue to implement water resource management to mitigate water risk.
With regards to effluents, all cooling water used in Ta Ya’s PVC and PE extrusion and CV production is channeled into the soft water recycling system, whereas water filtration and recycling are also adopted in magnet wire production to save water resources. The sand filter and sign at the waste water station of the Guanmiao Factory was damaged due to the earthquake in Meinong on February 6, 2016. A fine was imposed by the Tainan City Government because no improvement was made right after the earthquake. The improvements of the signs at the waste water station were reviewed and approved in May 2016. Application for air pollution control certification was renewed for the control facilities at the waste water station and approved in November 2016. The (raw) material and equipment in the Guanmiao Factory were damaged due to the earthquake in Meinong and two consecutive typhoons (Meranti and Megi) in September of the same year. Since a great deal of water was needed for cleaning and recovery from the disaster, the water consumption and wastewater discharge of the Guanmiao Factory were much greater in 2016 in comparison with previous years.
Recycling of rainwater is what we were implementing to conserve water resources. In 2011, Ta Ya installed storage tanks totaling 60 tons in capacity at its Guanmiao Factory to collect rainwater for watering, toilet flushing and floor cleaning. A water meter was later installed in June 2015 for measurement, which showed 187 tons of rainwater having been collected till 2016. No recycling of production water or rainwater has been adopted at the Dawan Factory.
Cuprime had more water consumption and wastewater discharge volume in 2015 and 2016 due to expanded capacity for production of phosphorus copper balls. Currently, Cuprime recycles water from the production process as a water saving measure. Recycled water is first treated using the wastewater pool then channeled to the forging section and used as cooling water on a circular basis. Ta Heng has also constructed a 150-ton reservoir and reserved part of its capacity to reclaim rainwater. Water supplied by this reservoir is directed to extrusion machines and toilets.
After the “Amendments of Water Act” was approved in May 2016, the Water Resources Agency plans to levy water consumption fees on the users who use more than 12,000 degrees of water in a year. On the other hand, measures are planned to reduce up to 60% of the fees if the goals of 9 indicators, including recycling of water, clean production, water footprint, renewal of resources, green product, and water conservation, are achieved. Ta Ya and Cuprime are expectedly affected. Though water expenses occupy a relative low percentage of the total cost, the companies will review all the actionable water conservation proposals and seek for suggestions on reduction of the water consumption fees.
