Supporting resilient, data driven operations at Taiwan’s largest water treatment plant with AI and digital twins

Zhitan Water Treatment Plant Digital Twin and AI-Driven Resilience

The Zhitan Water Treatment Plant treats raw water from the Xindian River through a multi-stage process. Intensifying extreme rainfall events have led to sudden spikes in raw water turbidity, placing strain on traditional, manual operational approaches and limiting response time during high-risk conditions. The Taipei Water Department reached out to our team to help them strengthen their operational resilience, efficiency, and long-term water security.

We delivered a customized, plant-specific digital solution that integrates digital twins, AI, and intelligent management systems into a single platform. The solution supports asset management, predictive intelligence, and real-time decision-making, helping the plant shift from reactive response to proactive prevention, while safeguarding potable water supply for the Greater Taipei metropolitan area.

The project includes a few key features. We created a digital twin enabled early warning program using a hydraulic model that integrates hydrological data, real-time plant data, and digital elevation model information to forecast influent water quality, turbidity peaks, and flood arrival timing. We implemented AI-driven precision dosing by combining hydraulic modeling and AI predictive analytics to deliver real-time coagulant and alkali dosing guidance to improve treatment consistency and chemical efficiency. Our team also incorporated predictive asset management with AI diagnostics that analyze internet of things (IoT) sensor data from critical equipment to detect anomalies early, enabling proactive maintenance and reduced downtime. We used industry-standard tools like HEC‑RAS and HEC‑HMS alongside proprietary algorithms to validate AI performance.

By embedding intelligent systems into daily operations, the Taipei Water Department has better positioned the plant to deliver safe, high-quality drinking water in an increasingly uncertain climate.