Measures to improve water ecology bear fruit in Zhoushan

A series of measures to improve water ecology have been deemed a success in Zhoushan, in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com]

Zhoushan has seen a great improvement of its water ecology in recent years thanks to a series of measures it has taken in water treatment, pollution control and government regulation. 

Around 278,500 metric tons of sludge has been dredged up from the city's river channels since 2017, greatly enhancing the channels' aquatic environment as well as their water retaining and flood discharging capacity. 

Meanwhile, regular water diversions are implemented to increase the fluidness of the channels, and rivers and lakes are connected to form a natural water circulation. This year will see 45 clean channels and seven clear rivers created in the city. 

The environment along the river banks has also been taken into consideration, where 101 eco-laundry-rooms have been built or renovated for the nearby residence communities. 

In terms of pollution control, the city has reconstructed 18 urban sewage treatment plants and renovated 191 drainage outlets since 2017, and has repaired over 260 kilometers of sewage pipes and built over 125 km of new pipes since 2014. 

In addition, a pilot project of rain and sewage diversion in four residential communities is underway in the city and is planned to be finished by the end of the year.

To ensure a smooth and effective water treatment, the city has also exercised strict government regulations by coordinating River Chiefs at county, district and city levels, and urging them to fulfill their duty of protecting the water environment.

The city has launched three special law enforcement actions to treat water pollution so far this year, examining 364 companies and rectifying 98.1 percent of various water-related problems.