Shandong's sustainable water management

Shandong province, which accounts for only 1 percent of China's total water resources, has irrigated approximately 5 percent of the country's arable land, produced about 8 percent of its grain, and contributed to over 7 percent of its GDP. This remarkable achievement is attributed to the province's long-standing commitment to conserving and efficiently utilizing water resources.

In Zhouzhuang village, Linqing, Liaocheng, high-standard farmland demonstration zones have been equipped with small and intelligent irrigation facilities, including "pump station + pipe irrigation" systems every 50 meters. Farmers now simply swipe a card to irrigate their fields.

As a major agricultural province, Shandong's agricultural irrigation accounts for approximately 60 percent of its total water consumption, making it a key area for water conservation efforts. To date, the province has built 76.43 million mu (5.09 million hectares) of high-standard farmland and 52.49 million mu of farmland with efficient irrigation systems.

Shandong takes increased measures about industrial water conservation and emission reduction, and has strictly controlled new high-water-consuming projects and promoted the treatment and recycling of industrial wastewater.

The province's daily urban sewage treatment capacity has reached 17.15 million metric tons.

These initiatives highlight Shandong's dedication to sustainable water management and its role as a model for other regions seeking to balance economic growth with environmental protection.