The problem of farmland pollution is serious, and central and local governments have been taking frequent action lately. In addition to amending the law to strictly screen the qualifications of buyers and sellers of farmhouses, the Yilan Farmland Irrigation Association also dropped a bombshell yesterday, requiring buildings on Type A and Type B building land that do not have wastewater discharge permits to submit a discharge application or an improvement plan for their facilities before the end of June, so that the wastewater meets irrigation water quality standards; if not improved, the pipes will simply be sealed off.

Although the irrigation association wants to actively manage water quality, the Yilan County Government believes that the relevant regulations do not stipulate that Type A and Type B building land must have discharge permits, and that the irrigation association's move may raise doubts about its legal basis. However, because wastewater discharge from Type A and Type B building land is indeed a loophole, the county government is amending the law to tighten farmland wastewater discharge standards, expected to pass in August.

Discharge permit primer: Under current laws and regulations, farmhouse wastewater must be granted a "discharge" permit by the irrigation association before it can be discharged into farmland drainage ditches. In recent years, farmhouses used as vacation villas or homestays have affected local water quality. Since last year, the Yilan Irrigation Association has strictly reviewed discharge permits, opposing wastewater that does not meet irrigation standards flowing into farmland.

Type A and Type B building land can be used for homestays, but wastewater is discharged directly into farmland drainage ditches

The luxury farmhouses in the Yilan countryside are criticized for not being actually used for farming, but not every luxury building is a "fake farmhouse"; some may be "Type A and Type B building land" located in the countryside, where the regulations already allow houses to be built.

Type A and Type B building land are both located in non-urban planning areas. Type A building land refers to building land in "general agricultural zones" and "special agricultural zones," while Type B building land is located in "rural zones" where the rural population is somewhat denser; many are building land with old traditional three-sided courtyard houses. In other words, Type A and Type B building land both adjoin farmland, and without land registry data, just looking at the appearance and location of the house, it is very easy to confuse them with ordinary farmhouses.

Farmhouses are buildings on farmland, and during construction a "discharge" permit must be applied for from the irrigation association, ensuring that wastewater meets effluent standards before it can be discharged into farmland drainage ditches. But buildings on Type A and Type B building land can not only serve as residences but also as homestays, and their wastewater is discharged directly into farmland drainage ditches, yet the regulations do not stipulate that Type A and Type B building land must have discharge permits, creating a management loophole.

Yilan Irrigation Association suspends acceptance of discharge applications, taking at least four months