People''s Daily Online | Hainan Province''s First Submerged Reclaimed Water Plant Helps Green Water and Green Mountains Free Trade Port

Yawei Creek. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

Green waters and green mountains free trade port, six waters jointly govern New Hainan. On April 6th, the 2023 Hainan "Six Waters Joint Governance" media event hosted by the Hainan Provincial Water Control Office was launched in Haikou. More than 20 mainstream media reporters from the central and provincial levels went deep into the front line of "water management" in Hainan Province, conducted in-depth research on the new ideas and measures for promoting "six water co governance" in Hainan Province, and observed the results and listened to feedback on site.

Red trees by the Yawei River. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

The water is clear, there are more fish, and living here is more comfortable! "Said Yawei Creek Park on Haidian Island in Meilan District, Haikou City. The dense mangrove forests are densely planted on both sides, and nearby residents stroll along the waterfront trail in the forest, enjoying the freshness brought by the comprehensive management of urban water bodies.

Yawei Creek. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

Tracing back to 2016, Yawei Creek was once exposed by the media as a typical example of a black and odorous water body. After 3 years of comprehensive management, Yawei Creek has been revitalized and opened to the public as a wetland ecosystem project in 2019, achieving the goal of returning water and greenery to the people.

Media reporters listened to the staff's introduction on the water environment management of Yawei Creek. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

At the Dingcun sewage treatment plant in Haikou City, reporters have changed their previous impression of the plant as "noisy and smelly". Upstairs is an open park with colorful scenery, clear water, lush grass, and complete supporting facilities; Downstairs is a two-stage underground urban sewage treatment plant, which continuously processes urban domestic sewage from the surrounding 10 square kilometers.

China Water Environment Group. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

We are the first sunken reclaimed water plant in Hainan Province, covering an area of only 39 acres. Currently, our sewage treatment capacity can reach up to 30000 tons per day, serving nearly 100000 people in the surrounding three major areas. Zhou Zhou, Deputy General Manager of China Water Environment Group Haikou Company, introduced that the plant adopts internationally leading biological deodorization technology, completely solves the problems of odor and noise pollution caused by sewage treatment facilities, and improves the quality of the surrounding environment through above ground environmental transformation; After treatment, the tailwater can achieve Class IV surface water environmental quality, which can replace tap water for urban municipal watering and serve as a stable water source for on-site ecological replenishment of Fengxiang Wetland Park and Meishe River. The water plant is buried underground, achieving both ecological and economic benefits.

Coconut Dream Corridor. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

After several years of treatment, the water in Meishe River has become clearer, the grass has become greener, and there is even a park right in front of our doorstep! "Chen Bolong, a villager from Maiying Village, told reporters. He grew up around Meishe River and witnessed its transformation from a" clear small river "to a" black and odorous water body ". It was not until recent years when the government has put in a lot of effort to jointly treat domestic sewage with surrounding residents, focusing on ecological water treatment and restoration, that Meishe River has become clear again. Nowadays, with clear water, green banks, and white egrets flying, the wetland park is crowded with visitors. Last year, it was also named the second "Most Beautiful Hometown River" by the Ministry of Water Resources of China, becoming a true "mother river" in Haikou.

Meishe River Fengxiang Wetland Park. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

Water security is crucial to the long-term stability of the country. Water management is a fundamental industry for economic and social development, and the water network is an important component of the "five networks" infrastructure. In 2022, the Hainan Provincial Party Committee and Government will plan and deploy the "six water co governance" campaign from the strategic perspective of ensuring water security at the Hainan Free Trade Port, including sewage treatment, water supply guarantee, drainage, flood prevention, water conservation, and seawater optimization. This will be the fifth landmark project in the construction of the Hainan National Ecological Experimental Zone.

Children playing and frolicking in Meishe River Fengxiang Wetland Park. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

Since 2022, Hainan Province, cities, counties, and districts have vigorously promoted the "six water co governance" work, using the Water Control Office as the work carrier, coordinating efforts to promote comprehensive watershed management, project element guarantee, facility interconnection, and the integration of rural domestic sewage treatment and rural toilet improvement. According to the Hainan Provincial Department of Water Affairs, in 2023, Hainan Province will continue to take sewage treatment as a breakthrough point, and work together to promote the "six water co treatment" of drainage, water supply, water conservation, seawater optimization, and flood prevention. Efforts will be made to control black and odorous water bodies, urban and rural sewage, aquaculture, agricultural non-point source pollution, and accelerate the comprehensive improvement of river channels. Comprehensive water treatment will be carried out across the entire region to ensure the continuous improvement of water ecological environment quality in all aspects.

Meishe River Fengxiang Wetland Park. Photo by Meng Fansheng from People's Daily Online

During the five-day 2023 Hainan "Six Waters Joint Treatment" media event, journalists from the central government stationed in Hainan and mainstream media will visit multiple key "Six Waters Joint Treatment" projects, including the Meishe River, Yawei River, and Dingcun Sewage Treatment Plant in Haikou City, Damao River and Tengqiao River in Sanya, Guangcun Mutang Eman Water Supply Project in Danzhou, Tianjiatan Water Conservancy Hub Project, and Zhuxi River in Wenchang. They will interview frontline water treatment workers and comprehensively showcase Hainan's good experience and practices in water treatment, cheering for the victory of the "Six Waters Joint Treatment" battle.