Distributed Underground WWTP Ecosystem Technology System Contributes to New Eco-compensation Mechanism of South-to-North Water Diversion Project

    On November 16 and 17, 2019, the annual meeting of the China Ecological Civilization Forum was held in Shiyan City, Hubei Province. Themed on “Ecological Civilization and Harmonious Co-existence — Pollution Control Promotes High-quality Development”, the meeting aims to explore a new path towards eco-friendly green development.
    Chen Zongxing, Vice Chairman of the 11th CPPCC National Committee and President of the China Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association, Li Ganjie, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaodong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee and Governor of Hubei Province, and Zhang Weiguo, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Hubei Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Shiyan Municipal Committee, made speeches at the opening ceremony. Huang Runqiu, Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment presided over the opening ceremony. Fang Yong, Secretary of the Board of Directors and Vice President of CWEG attended the event.
    CWEG Vice President Fang Yong made a speech titled “Distributed underground WWTP Ecosystem Technology System Contributes to the Eco-Compensation Mechanism of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project”. In his speech, he introduced the practices of CWEG in the eco-compensation of sources for reservoirs along the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
    CWEG developed its own underground WWTP technology on more than 10 years of efforts. As an eco-friendly, resource efficient and ecologically safe solution that turns wastewater into water resource and competitiveness, distributed underground WWTPs have been built in many cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guiyang, Dali and Chengdu.
    “Ankang is located at the upper reach of the Han River. It is richly endowed with freshwater resources, and thus acts as a water conservation area along the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Its annual average runoff is 38.8 billion cubic meters, accounting for 66.7% of the diversion from the Han River basin to northern China,” said CWEG Vice President Fang Yong, “To protect water resources, Ankang has sacrificed its economy and thus is financially intense. Ankang has made great contributions to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.”
    On October 6, 2019, CWEG Ankang Jiangnan Distributed underground WWTP was put into operation. The project is completely underground, and the above-ground area is for comprehensive green development and public facilities. It plays a key role in ensuring the implementation of Ankang’s political mission — to improve the water quality of the Han River which flows into Beijing and Tianjin, and at the same time, creates environmental and economic benefits. Besides, it sets a good example of eco-compensation, and puts the “Two Mountains” theory into practice.
    “CWEG will actively respond to the national call for ecological civilization development, and continue to implement the “Two Mountains” theory,” Fang said, “through the creative combination of high-quality distributed underground WWTP with green above-ground area development” and technological innovation, we can comprehensively make use of land and reclaimed water resources, creating ecological benefits as well as tremendous economic and social benefits which increase people’s quality of life.