The important task of preserving and protecting water quality in water supply areas is best facilitated through environmental-friendly management systems in adjacent waterzones, particularly through the formation of riparian buffers.
Urban areas are of particular interest because their high contributions of pollution loading conflict with their low covering percentage in the watershed. This feature of the urban landscape requires that certain areas to be converted into riparian buffers in order to restrict pollution sources and purify non-point sources. The various functions of the riparian buffer in water supply areas include reducing non-point sources, assuaging the public's peace of mind, and improving the environment's esthetics. To be effective, any damaged riparian buffers in urban areas should be recovered and the existing ones maintained. The following policies are recommended in order to achieve such ends:
1. To form operative riparian buffers, designated areas in fixed distances from bodies of water or areas that affect water quality, or absolute protection zones, need to be established. The absolute protecting zone is to be determined by factors of slope, soil, vegetation, pollutant source, and proximity. However, if taking account of flood water levels, surrounding areas within 30m of important water supply areas and urban areas, which are exclusive riparian buffer areas, should also be included.
2. Priority in terms of water quality should be established for each land segment in order to promote efficient land acquisition within the riparian