"The length of the Danshui River that is polluted has decreased by 54.6 kilometers," said EPA Deputy Minister Chang Tzi-chin at a press conference. "The water quality is improving rapidly.

The number of fish have also greatly increased.¡¨

Chang said that through the joint efforts of the local and central governments, only 4.5 percent of the full length of the river was polluted at the end of October, down from 21.4 percent of the river being polluted in 2002.

"We are cleaning up the river by dredging mud from the river's floor and by posting guards to patrol it to prevent people from dumping waste there," Chang said.

One positive consequence of the cleanup efforts has been the revitalization of marine life. According to EPA data, the number of species of fish that can be found now has increased, a development confirmed by the observations of local residents.

"The cleanup of the river has made great strides. I have received phone calls from people who live near the river who told me the number of fish has increased, " Chang said.

He also pointed to progress made in eliminating the river's foul smell that tarnished any visit to the river's banks.

"The stench was especially obvious when the tide retreated. Now, as the river is being cleaned up, the smell is gone," Chang said.

Improving the Danshui River entails more, however, than simply cleaning its waters.It also includes the development of infrastructure such as planting trees along the river and building bicycle paths, the EPA official stressed.

The 159-kilometer Danshui River originates on Pintien Mountain in Hsinchu County and winds its way through Hsinchu County, Taoyuan County, Taipei City and Taipei County before emptying into the Taiwan Strait.