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Shuizhen Park Suffers Rat Infestation; Zhubei Promotes 2nd Phase Environmental Optimization to Solve It

From Liberty Times · (7m ago) Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Zhubei City's Shuizhen Park is undergoing a NT$55 million environmental optimization project to address severe eutrophication and a recent rat infestation.
  • The project will improve the park's pond ecosystem by using ecological methods, replacing a plastic liner with clay, and restoring water flow.
  • Efforts to combat the rat problem include removing dilapidated structures, cutting off food sources, and implementing localized ecological pest control.

Zhubei City is taking decisive action to tackle environmental issues plaguing Shuizhen Park, a beloved local green space. For some time, the park's pond has suffered from severe eutrophication, creating an unhealthy aquatic environment. Compounding these issues, a recent and concerning rat infestation has emerged, prompting the city government to launch a comprehensive improvement project.

We discovered that the pond bottom was lined with plastic sheeting. Because it was not an ecological method, it was difficult to fundamentally resolve the long-term eutrophication problem, whether by supplying oxygen or using other methods.

— Mayor Cheng Chao-fangMayor Cheng Chao-fang explains the findings regarding the pond's construction that contributed to its ecological issues.

Mayor Cheng Chao-fang has spearheaded the initiative, which involves a significant investment of NT$55 million. This second phase of environmental optimization focuses on rectifying the pond's ecological imbalance. Investigations revealed that the pond's base, lined with plastic sheeting, was hindering natural processes and contributing to the eutrophication. The project will replace this with an ecological foundation of clay, incorporating aquatic plants to restore a healthier ecosystem. Furthermore, the water circulation system, compromised by damaged pipes and undersized inlets/outlets, will be repaired to ensure consistent water flow, preventing the stagnant conditions that exacerbate the problem.

The park's pond has been plagued by severe eutrophication and has recently been disturbed by a rat infestation.

— Zhubei City GovernmentThe city government describes the dual environmental problems facing Shuizhen Park.

The rat infestation, a growing concern nationwide, has been linked to park visitors feeding waterfowl, leaving behind food scraps that attract rodents. Dilapidated wooden structures within the park also provided ample nesting sites. The city plans to address this by removing the decaying structures, strictly controlling food sources, and implementing targeted ecological pest control measures within the construction zones. With an expected completion by the end of the year, this project aims not only to beautify Shuizhen Park but also to ensure a safer and more pleasant environment for all residents.

The dilapidated wooden structures in the park have become nests for rats, indirectly affecting the safety of the wooden structures.

— Zhubei City GovernmentThe city government explains how the park's infrastructure contributed to the rat problem.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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