Google invests NT$89.73 million to improve water quality in Taiwan’s Hsinchu

谷歌在台灣新竹投資8973萬台幣改善水質

New filtration system to treat 450 million gallons of water over 10 years


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Google is investing NT$89.73 million (US$3 million) in projects to clean up Hsinchu’s Touqian River and build a more sustainable water system for Taiwan.

Yu Chieh-cheng (尤傑正), Public Affairs Manager for Google’s Asia-Pacific data centers, said Tuesday that water supply in western Hsinchu is often unstable due to seasonal shifts and heavy industrial usage, forcing frequent cross-basin transfers and straining the region’s long-term water security, per CNA.

To tackle the issue, Google is funding a gravel contact oxidation process (GCOP) facility in the Xipuzi drainage area—one of the basin’s most polluted zones. The plant will treat more than 450 million gallons of water annually for the next decade, roughly 1.7 million metric tons a year, equivalent to the household water use of nearly 17,000 residents.

The GCOP system uses gravel in an ecological filtration process to remove contaminants, improve water quality, enhance river connectivity and boost the overall health of the watershed.

Yu also noted Google’s broader focus on sustainable water use. Since 2022, its Changhua data center has used 100 percent industrial water for cooling to avoid burdening public supplies.

Additionally, Google is collaborating with agri-tech firm N-Drip on a pilot project in Changhua County. The program uses gravity-powered drip systems to replace traditional flood irrigation, cutting water use and aiding farmers in conservation.