Oil Contamination Disrupts Water Supply in Multiple Districts, Authorities Vow to Investigate and Compensate

Residents in Keelung and Xizhi Report Oily Odors in Tap Water as Officials Prioritize Problem Resolution.

An unspecified oil contamination incident at the Badu pumping station on November 27th has led to widespread reports of oily tap water among residents in Keelung City's Anle, Ren'ai, Qidu, Zhongshan, and Xinyi districts. The issue has now extended to Xizhi in New Taipei City, where numerous households have also reported an oily smell in their water. Keelung Mayor Xie Guoliang stated that the city government and police are actively investigating the source of the contamination. The immediate priority is to resolve the current situation, with accountability for the water company to be determined in a subsequent phase.

In response to the contamination, Taiwan Water Corporation announced that water supply has returned to normal and meets all quality standards. The company has also outlined compensation measures for affected users. Households experiencing issues will receive a reduction of three units on their water bill. An additional two-unit reduction will be granted if users clean their water tanks themselves. For those who hire external services for tank cleaning, Taiwan Water Corporation will reimburse the costs upon presentation of valid receipts.