Taipei City Government

To minimize the impact of cloudbursts and strengthen the safety of communities built along slopes and mountainous areas, the Geotechnical Engineering Office joined hands with the Taiwan Professional Geotechnical Engineers Association (TPGEA) to offer Soil and Water Conservation Inspection for Slopes and Hilly Areas.
 
The program involves professional engineers who serve a 3-year shift patrolling slope and hillside communities in Taipei. The focus of this year’s inspection falls upon Xinyi, Nangang, and Wenshan districts. Staff members have completed 178 checks and the majority of facilities examined reported no irregularities, with the exception of 13 gutters and sediment deposit pools which require further cleaning.
 
Chairman Chen of TPGEA pointed out that the primary objective of the inspection is to ensure that related facilities are able to work properly during emergencies, thereby enhancing the safety of the community. Important emphasis is placed upon retaining walls and deposit pools.
 
For retaining walls, the inspector has to check for issues such as cracks and blockages on weep holes. As for deposit pools, details such as sediment level and whether water flow is blocked must be examined. For deposit pools equipped with pump, the equipment needs to be checked to see if working properly. Malfunctioning deposit pools may lead to landslide and flooding further downstream.
 
According to the GEO, residents do not comprehend the importance of the inspection program when the program was initiated back in 2010. Following years of promotion, the public is now aware of the importance of regular examination for these facilities. The agency reported that this year’s inspection showed no violation of related regulations. If individual households have a need to examine soil and water conservation equipment located on its property, they can contact GEO via phone (02-2759-3001, ext. 3730) or via the website (https://reurl.cc/QdgKNZ) to schedule a free inspection.