Effluent Standards

Original 4 articles promulgated by Department of Health Order Wei-Shu-Huan-Tzu No. 654798 on May 5, 1987.
Revisions promulgated by EPA Order (80) Huan-Shu-Fa-Tzu No. 00359 on January 16, 1991.
Revisions promulgated by EPA Order (80) Huan-Shu-Fa-Tzu No. 46873 on November 29, 1991.
Revisions promulgated by EPA Order (86) Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 09953 on March 19, 1997.
Revisions promulgated by EPA Order (86) Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 78804 on December 24, 1997.
Revisions to Article 6 promulgated by EPA Order (88) Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 0060545 on September 22, 1999.
Revisions to original eight articles promulgated by EPA Order (89) Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 0004191 on February 9,
2000.
Revisions to Articles 2 and 6 promulgated by EPA Order (90) Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 0004055 on February 7,
2001.
Revisions to Article 2 promulgated by EPA Order (90) Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 0069097 on November 21, 2001.
Revisions to Article 2 promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 09200847 on November 26, 2003.
Revisions to original eight articles promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 0960065740 on September 3,
2007.
Revisions to Articles 2 and 6 promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 0980065341 on July 28, 2009.
Nine articles promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tze No. 0990112348F on December 15, 2010.
Revisions to Articles 2 promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 10000103860 on December 1, 2011.
Revisions to Articles 2,5 and 6 promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 1010090770 on October 12,
2012.
Revisions to Articles 2 promulgated by EPA Order Huan-Shu-Shui-Tzu No. 1030005842 on January 22, 2014.

Article 1
These Standards are determined pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 2 of the Water Pollution Control Act
(herein referred to as this Act).
Article 2
Water quality items and limits for effluent standards for enterprises, sewage systems and building
sewage treatment facilities are as follows in the table:

Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes

limits

1. For
Generally applicable to Water temperature
effluents
wastewater from industries,
discharged
sewage systems and sewage
into surface
treatment facilities attached to
water bodies
buildings
other than the
ocean:
A. Belo
w 38°C (from
May to
September)
B. Belo
w 35°C (from
October to
April)
2.For
effluents
discharged
directly into
marine
waters, the
Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

temperature at
the discharge
point shall not
exceed 42°C;
and the
temperature
difference
should not
exceed 4°C
for surface
water at 500
meters from
the discharge
point.
pH 6.0–9.0
Fluorides (not including 15
complex ions)
Nitrate nitrogen 50 Not applicable to
newly established
public sewers used to
discharge wastewater
or sewage within
water source quality
and volume protection
areas. (Newly
established public
sewers means sewage
systems for which
planning had not been
completed by
November 23, 2001 or
planning had been
completed but project
bid requests had not
yet been made.)
Ammonia nitrogen 10 1. Controls on
ammonia nitrogen and
Orthophosphates 4.0
orthophosphates shall
(calculated as trivalent
apply to the discharge
phosphate radicals)
of wastewater or
sewage in water
source quality and
volume protection
areas. However, the
competent authority in
consultation with the
industry competent
authority shall draft a
control timetable and
effluent standards for
Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

ammonia nitrogen and

orthophosphate
generated by the
livestock industry.
2.Controls on the
discharge of
orthophosphates are
not applicable to the
discharge of
wastewater or sewage
into water source
quality and volume
protection areas by
newly established
public sewers. (Newly
established public
sewers means sewage
systems for which
planning had not been
completed by
November 23, 2001 or
planning had been
completed but project
bid requests had not
yet been made.)

Phenols 1.0
Anionic surfactants 10
Cyanide 1.0
Oil and grease (n- 10
hexane extract)
Soluble iron 10
Soluble manganese 10
Cadmium 0.03
Lead 1.0
Total chromium 2.0
Hexavalent chromium 0.5
Methyl mercury 0.0000002
Total mercury 0.005
Copper 3.0
Zinc 5.0
Silver 0.5
Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Nickel 1.0
Selenium 0.5
Arsenic 0.5
Boron 1.0
Sulfide 1.0
Formaldehyde 3.0
PCBs 0.00005
Total 0.5
organophosphorous
compounds (such as
Parathion, Diazinon,
Tamaron,
Azodrin,EPN, etc.)
Total aminomethyl- 0.5
carbamate (such as
Mipcin, Carbofuran,
Lannate,
Unden,BPMC, etc.)
Herbicides (such as 1.0
Butachlor,
Paraquat,2,4-
D (sodium),
Lasso,CNP-MCPA,
Glyphosate, etc.)
Endosulfan 0.03
Endrin 0.0002
Lindane 0.004
Heptachlor and its 0.001
derivatives
DDT and its derivatives 0.001
Aldrin, Dieldrin 0.003
Pentachlorophenol and 0.005
its salts
Toxaphene 0.005
Pentachloronitro- 0.00005
benzene
Folpet (phaltan) 0.00025
Captafol 0.00025
Captan 0.00025
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Dioxin 10 1. Applicable to Existing

enterprises, including
pulp industry and those
with the waste
incinerators using wet or
semi-dry scrubbers for
air pollution control and
producing wastewater
discharged into the
wastewater treatment
plant.
2. Existing enterprises
means those enterprises
that had been completed,
were in construction, or
for which project bid
request procedures had
been completed as of
October 12, 2012.
5 1. Applicable to newly-
established enterprises,
including pulp industry
and those with the waste
incinerators using wet or
semi-dry scrubbers for
air pollution control and
producing wastewater
discharged into the
wastewater treatment
plant.
2. "Newly-established
enterprises" means those
enterprises for which
planning had not been
completed as of October
12, 2012, or for which
planning had been
completed, but project
bid request procedures
had not yet been
completed as of that
time.
Printing, Dyeing and Biological oxygen 30
dyeing, finishing of printed demand (BOD)
and and woven textiles
Chemical oxygen 160
finishing
demand (COD)
industry
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Cone dyeing, hank Biological oxygen 30

dyeing and knit and demand (BOD)
unwoven textile
Chemical oxygen 140
dyeing and finishing
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Finishing, paper Biological oxygen 30
printing, wool demand (BOD)
brushing, wool
Chemical oxygen 100
cutting, wool
demand (COD)
buffing, and others
not belonging to the Suspended solids 30
above two 550
True color
categories
Leather Finished leather Biological oxygen 30
tanning made from raw hide demand (BOD)
industry Chemical oxygen 160
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Finished leather Biological oxygen 30
made from wet blue demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 200
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Others not Biological oxygen 30
belonging to the demand (BOD)
categories finished Chemical oxygen 100
leather made from demand (COD)
raw hide
and finished leather Suspended solids 30
made from wet blue True color 550
Pulp industry Chemical oxygen 150
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
True color 550
Fermentation industries Biological oxygen 50
(brewing industry; demand (BOD)
MSG production industry; wine
Chemical oxygen 150
or liquor, alcohol and vinegar
demand (COD)
production industries; soy sauce
Suspended solids 50
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

production industry; and True color 550

antibiotic and organic solvent
manufacturing industries)
Paper manufacturing industry Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100 Not using waste paper
demand (COD) as raw material
180 Using waste paper as
raw material (above
60%)
160 Using waste paper as
raw material (below
60%)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Wool production and chemical Biological oxygen 30
industries demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Pharmaceutical and pesticide Biological oxygen 30
manufacturing industries demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Food industry Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
E. Coli 200,000 Applicable to the
rendering process
animal carcasses
Meat processing industry Biological oxygen 80
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 150
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 80
True color 550
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

E. Coli 200,000

Metal, metal surface treatment, Chemical oxygen 100

electroplating, ship demand (COD)
manufacturing and repair, wafer
Suspended solids 30
manufacturing, and
semiconductor manufacturing
industries
Power plants Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Total residual chlorine 0.5
Rubber manufacturing industry Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Cement manufacturing industry Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Powder manufacturing industry Biological oxygen 50
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 80
Textile industry Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Sugar industry Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Mineral extraction, ceramic, and Chemical oxygen 100
soil or rock processing and demand (COD)
extraction industries Suspended solids 50
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Automobile repair facilities Chemical oxygen 100

demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Glass industry Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Printed circuit board Biological oxygen 50
manufacturing industry demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 120
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Other industries Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Wastewater treatment service Biological oxygen 30
industry demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
E. Coli 300,000
Livestock industry (I) Biological oxygen 80 Applicable to non-
demand (BOD) grazing animals, such
Chemical oxygen 600 as pigs, chickens,
demand (COD) ducks and geese

Suspended solids 150

Livestock industry (II) Biological oxygen 80 Applicable to grazing
demand (BOD) (grass fed) animals,
Chemical oxygen 450 such as cows, horses,
demand (COD) sheep, deer and
rabbits.
Suspended solids 150
Meat markets Biological oxygen 80
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 150
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 80
True color 550
Fish markets Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Chemical oxygen 100

demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Human waste (night soil) Biological oxygen 50
treatment plants demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
E. Coli 300,000
Recyclable waste recycling Chemical oxygen 300
industry and sanitary landfills demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Waste incinerators and other Chemical oxygen 100
waste treatment plants (facilities) demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
E. Coli 200,000 Applicable to the
rendering process of
animal carcasses
Photograph developing industry Chemical oxygen 100
and plate-making industry demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Laundry industry, shipbreaking Chemical oxygen 100
industry, ship cleaning industry demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Aquaculture industry Biological oxygen 30
demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Experimental, (chemical) testing Biological oxygen 30
and research laboratories demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 200
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Hospitals and medical Biological oxygen 30
institutions demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
E. Coli 200,000
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Zoos Biological oxygen 50

demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 150
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
E. Coli 300,000
Environmental inspection and Biological oxygen 30
testing organizations demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Tap-water plants Chemical oxygen 100 Water treatment plant
demand (COD) may, in response to a
torrential rain report or
Suspended solids 50
natural disaster,
Total residual chlorine 0.5 directly discharge
water not meeting
these Standards when
emergency response
measures have been
adopted as prescribed
in the Water Pollution
Control Measures and
Test Report
Management
Regulations.
Restaurants, hotels and Biological oxygen 50 When simple bathing
recreational resorts demand (BOD) wastewater from the
dining industry and
Chemical oxygen 150
tourist hotels meeting
demand (COD)
the requirements of
Suspended solids 50 the Water Pollution
Control Measures and
E. Coli 300,000
Test Report
Management
Regulations is
discharged into a
surface water body
downstream from the
hot spring source in
question, only water
temperature need
comply with the
control limits in these
Standards.
Container freight depot Chemical oxygen 100
operators demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Car-washes Chemical oxygen 100

demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
Coal storage yards, construction Biological oxygen 30 Construction and
sites, sand and gravel storage demand (BOD) rock/soil storage
(disposal) sites (dump) site controls
Chemical oxygen 100
are solely applicable
demand (COD)
to those sites that have
Suspended solids 30 failed to adopt
necessary measures in
True color 550
accordance with
regulations.
Other industries designated by Biological oxygen 30
the central competent authority demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen 100
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
True color 550
Sewage Designated Non- Biological Maximu 30 Seven-day average
systems sewers petrochemic oxygen m value values are derived by
al industrial demand mixing four daily
Seven- 25
parks (BOD) water samples, taken
day
average at intervals of from
value four to eight hours, to
perform one water
Chemical Maximu 100 sample test; the
oxygen m value average is then taken
demand of test values for seven
Seven- 80
(COD)
day consecutive days.
average
value
Suspended Maximu 30
solids m value
Seven- 25
day
average
value
True color 550

Biological Maximu 25 1. These Standards

oxygen m value shall take effect on
demand January 1, 2016.
(BOD) 2. Applicable to sewer
Seven- 20 systems for which
day planning had not been
average completed by July 31,
value
Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Chemical Maximu 80 2009 or planning had

oxygen m value been completed but
demand project bid requests
Seven- 65
(COD) had not yet been
day
average made, and for which
value project bid requests
had been made by July
Suspended Maximu 25 31, 2009 with permit-
solids m value approved effluent
Seven- 20 volume exceeding
day 10,000 CMD.
average 3. Seven-day average
value values are derived by
mixing four daily
True color 550 water samples, taken
at intervals of from
four to eight hours, to
perform one water
sample test; the
average is then taken
of test values for seven
consecutive days.
Community Flow rate Biological 30
sewers greater oxygen
than demand
250CMD (BOD)
Chemical 100
oxygen
demand
(COD)
Suspended 30
solids
E. Coli 200,000
Flow rate Biological 50
less than oxygen
250 demand
CMD (BOD)
Chemical 150
oxygen
demand
(COD)
Suspended 50
solids
E. Coli 300,000
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Other Biological oxygen 30

designated demand (BOD)
areas or
Chemical oxygen 100
sites
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 30
Public Flow rate Total nitrogen 15.0 Total nitrogen and
sewers greater than total phosphorus
Total phosphorus 2.0
250 CMD standards are
Biological oxygen 30 applicable solely to
demand (BOD) newly established
public sewers used to
Chemical oxygen 100
discharge wastewater
demand (COD)
or sewage within
Suspended solids 30 water source quality
200,000 and volume protection
E. Coli
areas (newly
Flow rate Total nitrogen 15.0 established public
less than sewers refers to
Total phosphorus 2.0
250 CMD sewage systems for
Biological oxygen 50 which planning had
demand (BOD) not been completed by
Chemical oxygen 150 November 23, 2001 or
demand (COD) planning had been
completed but project
Suspended solids 50 bid requests had not
E. Coli 300,000 yet been made.).
Newly- Flow rate Biological oxygen 30 1. Newly-
established greater than demand (BOD) established buildings
building sewage 250 CMD Chemical oxygen 100 refer to those
treatment demand (COD) buildings for which a
facilities construction permit
Suspended solids 30 application is made
E. Coli 200,000 after January 1, 2009.
2. The Coliform
Flow rate Biological oxygen 50 group item is not
less than demand (BOD) applicable when the
250 CMD Chemical oxygen 150 flow rate is less than
demand (COD) 50 cubic meters/day.
Suspended solids 50
E. Coli 300,000
Existing building Flow rate Biological oxygen 30 Existing buildings
sewage treatment greater than demand (BOD) refer to those
facilities 250 CMD Chemical oxygen 100 buildings for which a
demand (COD) construction permit
application is made
Suspended solids 30 prior to December 31,
E. Coli 200,000 2008.
 Applicable scope Effluent characteristics Effluent Notes
limits

Flow rate Biological oxygen 50

between 50 demand (BOD)
and Chemical oxygen 150
250 CMD demand (COD)
Suspended solids 50
E. Coli 300,000
Flow rate Biological oxygen 80
less than demand (BOD)
50 CMD
Chemical oxygen 250
demand (COD)
Suspended solids 80
Article 3
The industries, their associations, or relevant environmental groups may submit detailed scientific
data to the Responsible Agency at the central government level to support argument for revision of these
Standards.
Article 4
The COD limits determined in these Standards shall be tested using the potassium dichromate
oxidation method; the true color shall be tested using true color colorimetry.
Article 5
The dioxin concentration is calculated as the sum of the measured concentrations of 17 compounds,
including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin-2,3,7,8-TeCDD, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated
dibenzofuran,2,3,7,8-TeCDF and 2,3,7,8- penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and octa-chlorinated dioxins and furans,
multiplied by the international dioxin toxic equivalency factors (I-TEF), and is expressed as a toxicity
equivalency quantity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin quantity (TEQ).
Article 6
All values of the effluent characteristics used in these Standards constitute maximum limitations,
with the exception of the lowest limits for pH, and the units for such characteristics are defined as follows:
I. pH: Unitless
II. True color: Unitless
III. E. Coli: Colony count on filter membrane per 100 ml water sample (CFU/100mL).
IV. Dioxin: pg I-TEQ/L
V. Other characteristics: mg/L
Article 7
Apart from water temperature and pH, with regard to the limits for the various items in these
Standards, these Standards shall not be applicable when an enterprise or sewage system takes non-contact
cooling water from a water body for cooling or cyclic use, and discharges water into a surface water body
near the original water intake location.
Article 8
If an enterprise, sewage system, or building sewage treatment facility simultaneously has, within the
applicable scope of these Standards, two or more different industry types or different processes within the
same industry, and wastewater is mixed during treatment and discharge, effluent standards for each
industry shall be complied with. When the same control items have different control limits, the stricter
limits shall be complied with. When wastewater from one industry type accounts for 75% or more of all
wastewater volume, and that wastewater stream is equipped with an independent, dedicated, cumulative
flow measurement facility, the enterprise, sewage system, or building sewage treatment facility may apply
to the competent authority to control common control items on the basis of effluent standards for said
industry.
The wastewater volume percentage in the foregoing paragraph shall be calculated using records from
the half-year prior to the application date.

Article 9
Unless an enforcement date is separately designated, these Standards shall take effect on the date of
promulgation.