Taoyuan's sewer hookup project is running behind schedule, which is bad news for the city government and the contractor facing possible breach of contract.

• The contractor is due to connect over 191,000 households by the end of October but is on pace to fall short by around 11,000.
• At the current pace of about 1,000 hookups a month, the target would need more than double that rate to be met on time.
• The project has been running for more than 13 years since the 2012 contract was signed, covering Taoyuan, Bade, and parts of Luzhu and Guishan.
• Work crews have been expanded from 24 to 49 teams, and the city says it is helping clear obstacles like pipe relocation and illegal structures.

Outlook: The city insists the October deadline will be met, but auditors see a real risk of the contractor missing it and triggering penalties.