Ministry of Ecology and Environment: Beautiful China, I am an Actor | Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant: Bishui Reclaimed Environmental Protection Science Popularization Volunteer Public Welfare Action

In the core area of Beijing's urban sub center, a 110 acre ecological park is lined with green trees, birds chirping and flowers blooming. Children chase and play on the lawn, while the elderly leisurely stroll along the trail. Few people know that beneath this vibrant green space lies an "underground palace" that processes 180000 tons of sewage per day - the Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant. From 2014 to 2024, this sewage treatment plant, which is only one wall away from the community, completed a shocking transformation in ten years: from an "environmental hazard" that residents avoided, to a highly sought after ecological education base; From a silent sewage treatment facility, it has transformed into a "heart bridge" connecting the government and the people, and will be honored as an advanced typical case of environmental protection facility opening by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in 2025.

Breaking the deadlock: Innovative models to solve the "neighbor avoidance dilemma"

Before 2014, the Bishui Sewage Treatment Plant located in the core area of Tongzhou District was a "heart disease" for surrounding residents. With the development of cities and people's demands for the environment, traditional sewage treatment plants operate outdoors, emitting odors and noise that disturb residents. Every summer, residents in surrounding communities even dare not open windows for ventilation. The change began with the upgrade and renovation project in 2014. Under the overall deployment of the Tongzhou District Committee and Government, the Tongzhou District Water Affairs Bureau, as the implementing unit, has tailored an innovative construction model of "above ground park+underground water plant" for the Bishui Sewage Treatment Plant: transferring all the core processes of sewage treatment underground, and building the above ground part into an open park integrating leisure, science popularization, and ecology. This renovation not only completely solves the problems of odor and noise, but also transforms the water plant from an "environmental pollution source" into a "urban green lung".

The renovated water plant has expanded its daily processing capacity to 180000 tons and is responsible for 84% of the domestic sewage treatment in Tongzhou District. The treated water quality meets the Class IV standard for surface water, with a portion used for park greening irrigation and river supply, and another portion flowing back to the municipal reclaimed water system, achieving the recycling of water resources. Standing on the observation deck of the park, watching the clear recycled water slowly flowing along the scenic river, it is hard to imagine that underfoot is the "secret base" that processes 100000 tons of sewage.

This innovative model of "hiding pollution underground and returning greenery to citizens" has successfully solved the problem of "neighbor avoidance effect" in the construction of environmental protection facilities. As the head of the Tongzhou District Water Affairs Bureau said, "We not only need to deal with sewage, but also with public opinion. Building water plants underground and returning parks to the people are key measures to resolve conflicts.

Before the upgrade and renovation of Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant (left), and after the upgrade and renovation (right)

Connecting Hearts: Volunteer Teams Build 'Communication Bridges'

The hardware renovation has solved the physical distance barrier, but the "psychological defense line" in residents' hearts still needs to be dismantled with care. In 2014, in order to eliminate misunderstandings among surrounding residents about the sewage treatment plant, an environmental science popularization volunteer team was formed, consisting of staff from the Tongzhou District Water Affairs Bureau, District Ecological Environment Bureau, Bishui Plant employees, and surrounding community social workers. This team, originally consisting of just over 20 people, became the first bridge connecting the government, enterprises, and the people.

The work of the volunteer service team starts with 'going out'. The team members went down to the community to distribute promotional brochures, invited residents to visit the water plant, and explained the principles of sewage treatment in easy to understand language. Many residents have never seen the process of sewage treatment in their entire lives and always feel that it produces toxic substances, "said Shi Rui, the captain of the volunteer team." Our action is to let everyone see the mystery of turning sewage into clean water with their own eyes, and make water conservation and low-carbon living a habit

In June 2017, the water supply ceremony after the comprehensive upgrade and renovation of the water treatment process at the water plant became a key milestone in breaking down barriers. The volunteer team specially invited 50 elderly residents who have lived in the surrounding area for more than 30 years to enter the water plant. When the elderly wore safety helmets and walked along the underground passage to see the sewage passing through a series of processes such as grilling, sand settling, biochemical reactions, and deep treatment, finally turning into clear and transparent recycled water, warm applause rang out on site. Amazing! This water is really clean! "An elderly person excitedly picked up a water cup and carefully observed the treated recycled water. When leaving, many residents exclaimed, "Now you dare to open the window, and the air is much better

This visit became a turning point in science popularization work. The volunteer team seized the opportunity and launched regular activities such as "Water Plant Open Day", "Environmental Classroom into Community", and "Immersive Experience of Sewage Treatment". Every week, the water plant welcomes residents from surrounding communities and students from schools; Volunteers regularly visit the community and use vivid and easy to understand explanations accompanied by display boards to explain the process of turning sewage into clean water, calling on everyone to save water and protect the environment. Gradually, residents shifted from "asking me to visit" to "I want to visit", their concerns turned into curiosity, and their doubts turned into support.

Environmental protection science popularization volunteer team carries out public welfare science popularization activities

Growth: Ten years of deep cultivation to build a "popular science brand"

In 2022, with the comprehensive completion of the ground ecological park, the nearly 1000 square meter ecological science popularization exhibition hall will be officially put into use. Inside the exhibition hall, facilities such as sewage treatment process models, interactive devices for water resource recycling, and VR virtual water plant experience areas are readily available, making it the "headquarters" for volunteer teams to carry out science popularization work. At this time, the volunteer team for water plant science popularization work has also expanded from the initial 20 people to over 700 people, with social forces such as school students, enterprise employees, and retired elderly accounting for more than 60%. The vibrant youth group has become the main force of volunteer service.

Over the past decade, the "Green Water Regeneration Environmental Protection Science Popularization Volunteer Public Welfare Action" has gradually formed a distinctive science popularization model:

• Immersive experience: Through underground access channels, the public can intuitively experience the entire process of sewage from black to clean;

• Interactive teaching: Set up experience areas such as sewage treatment simulation and interactive games on recycled water utilization in the science popularization exhibition hall, allowing children to operate them by themselves;

• Life oriented communication: Volunteers enter communities, schools, and enterprises to explain the importance of "saving water, protecting water, and cherishing water" with examples from around them.

From 2014 to 2024, this volunteer team has carried out more than 1200 science popularization activities, received over 50000 visitors, and reached over 56 million people through online live broadcasts, short videos, and other forms. In March 2025, the Beijing Ecological Environment Protection Propaganda Center officially awarded the flag to the "Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant Environmental Science Popularization Volunteer Service Team", marking a solid step towards the goal of "distinctive characteristics, outstanding professionalism, wide service coverage, and strong driving force" for this team.

Nowadays, at the Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant, you can often see scenes like this: elderly people with white hair take their grandchildren to visit the exhibition hall and immerse themselves in the sewage treatment process, young volunteer guides pass on water stories to the public, and community residents stop in front of the science popularization corridor in the park to learn. This is no longer a cold industrial facility, but an "ecological classroom" filled with smoke and fire.

In March 2025, the Beijing Ecological Environment Protection Propaganda Center awarded flags to the volunteer team, and in August of the same year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment awarded flags to the volunteer team

Outlook: Passing on the torch from generation to generation, guarding the 'clear waters and waves'

Ten years of trials and tribulations, at the beginning of the decade, my heart was like a rock. The decade of Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant is a decade of environmental protection facilities moving from "hidden corners" to "public view", a decade of ecological concepts changing from "policy propaganda" to "national action", and a decade of "ecological benefits for the people, water protection for the people" taking root.

As a national environmental protection facility open to the public and a Beijing ecological environment education base, the practice of Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant provides replicable and promotable experience for the opening of environmental protection facilities: solving the problem of "avoiding neighbors" with innovative models, building communication bridges with volunteer services, and consolidating social consensus with science popularization education. This case also proves that environmental protection facilities can not only treat sewage and purify the environment, but also become vivid teaching materials for ecological civilization education and an important platform for consolidating social forces.

2025 Summer Environmental Science Popularization Volunteer Public Welfare Action

The blue waves ripple, but the original intention remains unchanged. Standing at a new starting point, Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant will continue to uphold the original intention of "ecological benefits for the people, water protection for the people", take the "Bishui Reclaimed Environmental Protection Science Popularization Volunteer Public Welfare Action" as the starting point, constantly innovate science popularization forms, expand science popularization coverage, let more people understand the secrets of sewage treatment, participate in water resource protection actions, and jointly protect green mountains and rivers, and build a beautiful China!

Source | World Environment Magazine

Editor | Li Xiajing