Is it legal to pump water from the river?
…from the river, not from the irrigation ditches
All my neighbors do, but nobody knows
Who owns and manages the rivers?
Please help me find some data
Thanks in advance
Technically, it is not legal. In practice TPTB don’t care as long as you’re not taking an excessive amount. In other countries there is usually a maximum amount that you can withdraw before you need a licence - for example in the UK it’s 10 cubic meters a day. AFAIK this is not the case in Taiwan.
Caution: the place I used to rent land, the neighbours were under the impression that they owned the river and could pump (and waste) as much as they wanted. I, as a foreigner and a newcomer, was not allowed to touch it. So you might want to determine first if your neighbours are assholes.
6 Likes
Thank you
You got my point
It’s illegal, but everybody does
And since we are foreigners… suddenly, we have to respect the law
I have not tried yet, still assessing the value of my neighbors!
TPTB ?
I had to look for that one
Do you mean?
TPTB… The powers that be is a phrase that refers to those individuals or groups who collectively hold authority over a particular domain
It’s legal only if you live in a van down by the river. 
Here is the regulation.
Water Act
Chapter 3 Water Right
Enforcement Rules for Water Act
If you are interested in and understand chinese, you will find more info here.
經濟部水利署 (Water resources agency)
http://www.wra.gov.tw
法律及法規命令 laws and regulations
http://wralaw.wra.gov.tw/wralawgip/lawCatalogue.jsp?lawClass2=2&lawClass=2&tabindex=5001#5001
農田水利處
https://www.coa.gov.tw/ws.php?id=6030
These are in English.
Department of Irrigation and Engineering
http://doie.coa.gov.tw/english/e-index.asp
Soil and Water Conservation Bureau
http://en.swcb.gov.tw/home.aspx
3 Likes
Thank you !
So…
What I understand from the documents is…
I need to ask for a ‘water right’ to the TPTB, obviously the chief of the village first and then the Dept of Irrigation
better not in my name (non-citizen of the ROC may not acquire water right)
specify it is for domestic and agricultural uses
in case of conflict… I have lost already… better not create conflict… peace and love!
When dispute arises among registered water right holders due to under supply of water, the holder who has a higher priority of usage shall be given the preemption; among those who have the same priority, the holder who acquired the right first shall be given the preemption
ok, that’s clear now…
Thanks again
Small question. This is a river not a creek. Why would neighbor’s be pricks about you taking water for any small land agricultural purpose. You’d kind of expect that they would be happy at anyone who wants to use the land and be helpful. Maybe even say, nor worries , you don’t need that much, tap into my system.
Yeah really, what are you going to take it all.
You would think so, wouldn’t you. Where I was, there were clusters of half-inch pipes running individually along the riverbank, because the resident cnuts wouldn’t even share a pipe between themselves, nevermind with an outsider.
Oooopss…
Well, this is a river indeed, not a creek
I am not going to suck the whole water indeed
But first I will need to pass tubes through other people’s land
and obviously leave my water pump in a very exposed and visible location near the water
even visible from the road… (still looking around for a better spot)
I’d better know my rights
Next, water is life here in the hilly farming countryside… it is also big business
When the winds are South, air is humid and lot of water in the river… no problem
When the winds turn North, air gets dry, and rivers run out of water… is another picture!
and water can become expensive and source of conflict
Finally, as a foreigner, I feel I should take double precaution and know the law
As Finley mentioned… local farmers really feel like they own the place and the water!
And the law supports them… > the holder who acquired the right first shall be given the preemption
That was the original goal of this thread
Photo of a typical installation
You can see the river… The pump is behind the concrete little wall… and the tube to the farm
