The project is to assist EPA in its preparation for the water pollution control fees collection program. Major works in this project were implemented at two stages. In the first stage (to be completed by the end of 2004), task works included the amendment of the Draft Regulation for Water Pollution Control Fees Collection, and completion of detail planning for the water pollution control fees collection operation including collection targets, collection items, collection methods and procedures, calculation methods, fee payment procedures and deadlines, bank accounting procedures, etc.. In the second stage (to be completed by the end of 2005), the project concentrated on detail revisions of the administrative procedures for the water pollution control fees collection and establishment of the water pollution control fees collection computer systems, as well as test calculation on fee rates and analysis on the extent of impact to fee payers and water pollution reduction incentives. The project also carried out relevant regulations revision, meetings coordination, and related administrative works. The water pollution control fees collection is divided into two stages. The first stage will start from January 2006 to collect fees from the industrial sector (including illegal industries) and industrial wastewater sewer system, based on COD and SS discharge. The second stage will start from January 2009 to include households, public wastewater sewer systems, community owned sewer systems as collection targets and expand the collection items to include health hazard materials. The Fee rates planning and design took into consideration of domestic and foreign fee rates reference material, as well as domestic pollution control cost and industrial economy situation. The fee rates were designed on the basis of fixed rates with discounted rates available as incentives. The fee rates are 12.5 NTD/KG COD and 0.62 NTD/KG SS. In order to make a smooth launch of the levy program, the fee rates will be further discounted to begin with and the fund raised will be distributed by a 4 to 6 ratio between the central and the local governments. After the water pollution control fees are collected, EPA will subsidize a certain portion of the funding to the relevant competent industry authorities for consultation and improvement within its jurisdiction to enhance water pollution control fees collection and utilization.

Water Pollution Fees, Fee Rates, The Draft Regulation for Water Pollution Control Fees Collection