Zhonghe Ruisi Water Reservoir Introduction
The Zhonghe area was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples until the sixth year of the Qianlong era (1741), when Hakka and Cantonese people came to Taiwan for land reclamation, and the earliest records of Han villages appeared. After the Japanese occupation of Taiwan began in the 28th year of the Meiji era (1895), in order to improve water quality and meet the needs for coal washing at the "Shanben Coal Mine" in the Haishan area, construction of the Banqiao Waterway began in the third year of the Showa era (1928) and was put into operation the following year. The Ruìsuì Water Purification Plant was established in the fourth year of the Showa era (1929) at Ruìsuì Heights, serving as a division point for water delivery and distribution. With the construction of Banqiao Station, the area rapidly developed, attracting a large population. The Japanese authorities planned to expand the Banqiao Waterway in the 16th year of the Showa era (1941), but the outbreak of the Pacific War eventually halted these plans. After the restoration of Taiwan, the waterway system was severely damaged by the war, leading to a sharp reduction in water supply. The government planned repairs and expansions; during this process, the waterway system established during the Japanese colonial period was gradually replaced. In the 52nd year of the Republic of China (1963), water was drawn from the Xindian River, gradually replacing groundwater sources, and by the 63rd year of the Republic of China (1974), surface water from the Dahan River was adopted as the water source, completing the tap water system in the Banqiao area and fully phasing out groundwater sources. The only remaining well-preserved relic of the waterway from the Japanese occupation period is the Ruìsuì Water Purification Plant. The purification plant has served its water supply function since the Japanese colonial era, with its water source provided from the current Yonghe Water Source Road outlet, linking the development of two regions and representing a significant relic in the modernization of the waterway.
