With rapid population growth and urbanization, coupled with agricultural and industrial boom, demand for water is on a continual steep rise. Meanwhile, an increasing shortage of the world's available water resources has become the result of unceasing droughts around the world, water pollution by human activities, and improper water use and management.
The disaster brought to Southern Taiwan by Typhoon Morakot in August 2009 well exemplified the unprecedented water "management" crisis the whole world is facing. For this, this special issue of Tap Water Newsletter starts with an introduction to the theme of "The 3rd IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Exhibition" held on October 2009 in Taipei – Working for Asia-Pacific Water Sustainability – and follows by a briefing on the results of leakage prevention over the past six years, and urging the public to continue conserving water. In addition, thematic reports are provided as a way of guiding the public to rethink issues related to bottled water.
For the issues of water resources, the utility water service personnel spare no efforts working on their improvement. At the same time, the public is encouraged to work together with us for leaving the purest water to our offspring.