To protect consumer rights, the Executive Yuan’s Department of Consumer Protection (hereinafter referred to as the DCP) conducted inspections on the maintenance and management of stationary continuous water supply equipment (hereinafter referred to as drinking water equipment) and water quality inspections at transportation hubs, fitness centers, and department stores (or shopping malls) in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Changhua County, Chiayi City and Kaohsiung City in January 2026. A total of 20 locations were inspected, of which drinking water equipment maintenance and management for 10 locations were found to be non-compliant, and the water quality for 2 locations was found to be non-compliant. In response to the deficiencies discovered during this inspection, the agency-in-charge has been immediately requested to urge the local government to handle the matter in accordance with the law and require the business operators to make improvements.
Given that various public and private places usually install drinking water equipment to facilitate public access to drinking water, and in order to safeguard drinking water safety, the DCP conducted a joint inspection with the aforementioned local governments’ environmental protection agencies in January 2026. The results of this inspection are as follows:
I. Drinking water maintenance and management: 10 locations failed to meet the regulations, and the main deficiencies were as follows:
(I)The management unit of drinking water equipment should carry out maintenance itself or entrust a professional organization to do so at least once a month, and document the details of each maintenance in the water quality inspection and drinking water equipment maintenance record sheet. The record sheets should be retained for two years for verification by the agency-in-charge: eight locations failed to meet requirements.
(II)Conduct water quality testing of drinking water equipment in accordance with regulations. The record sheets should be retained for two years for verification by the agency-in-charge: four locations failed to meet requirements.
(III)The management unit of drinking water equipment shall place the respective water quality inspection and drinking water equipment maintenance record sheet in a conspicuous spot near the equipment and make it available for inspection by the agency-in-charge: seven locations failed to meet requirements.
II.Water quality inspection:
(I)Coliform group bacteria: one location failed to meet the requirements, specifically due to excessive levels of coliform group bacteria.
(II)Heavy metals: one location failed to meet the requirements, which was due to excessive levels of chromium.
Upon receiving the inspection report, the local agency-in-charge immediately ordered the cessation of the use of drinking water equipment at the locations where the water quality failed the inspections. Improvements have since been made. As for locations where deficiencies in the maintenance and management of drinking water equipment were found, they are currently being handled by the local government's environmental protection authorities in accordance with the law. Ongoing demands for improvements are being made.
The DCP hereby urges drinking water equipment management units and the public to pay attention to the following matters:
I.Administrators of drinking water equipment should strictly comply with the provisions of the Drinking Water Management Act, and the Regulations Governing the Use and Maintenance of Stationary Continuous Water Supply Equipment, and carry out maintenance themselves or entrust professional organizations to do so at least once a month. Maintenance may include replacing or cleaning filter cartridges, materials or media, or sterilizing equipment or pipelines, or other maintenance items.
II.Businesses or administrators should conduct tests for coliform group bacteria or other necessary tests every three months to ensure compliance with the Drinking Water Quality Standards.
III.When using drinking water equipment, the public can check whether the drinking water equipment management unit has placed the water quality inspection and drinking water equipment maintenance record sheet for each drinking water equipment in a conspicuous spot near said equipment, to support its use.