People''s Representative Newspaper 35th Anniversary National Tour Visits Dali Project to Explore Erhai Lake Governance Methods

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of its founding, the only publicly issued newspaper within the National People's Congress system, People's Representative Newspaper, has designated Dali Prefecture as the focal point for the "People's Representative Newspaper's 35th Anniversary National Tour" in Yunnan Province. The delegation specifically visited the sunken-type reclaimed water plant of China Water Environment Group in the ancient city, focusing on research and reporting related to Erhai Lake protection and governance, and the leading role of technology.

Erhai Lake, representing plateau lakes, is also known as the "Mother Lake" of the people in Dali. In the 1990s, Erhai Lake suffered from pollution, experiencing several outbreaks of lake-wide blue-green algae, leading to a rapid deterioration in water quality. In recent years, the Erhai Lake basin has implemented a series of ecological protection measures, including blocking sewage inflow along the lake, regulating water quality, protecting biodiversity, and implementing integrated protection and restoration projects for the mountains, waters, forests, fields, lakes, grass, and sands in the Erhai Lake basin.

Through the governance work of the Dali Erhai Lake perimeter sewage interception project, China Water Environment Group has innovatively employed a "distributed sunken-type reclaimed water ecological system". Around Erhai Lake, 6 distributed sunken-type reclaimed water plants have been established, and the delegation visited one of them in the sunken reclaimed water plant in the ancient city of Dali.

Ottelia acuminata blossoms in Erhai Lake

The 6 sunken-type reclaimed water plants resemble a pearl necklace, forming a major artery that intercepts and reuses domestic sewage around Erhai Lake. The treated wastewater enters wetlands for purification and is then used for urban landscape water and agricultural irrigation, achieving wastewater reuse and effectively preventing sewage from entering the lake. This process significantly protects Erhai Lake and promotes sustained improvement in water quality. After half a century, the water quality indicator, the sea flower Ottelia acuminata, is flourishing again on Erhai Lake.

The delegation conducted interviews at the sunken-type reclaimed water plant in the ancient city of Dali

Through persistent efforts, the water quality of Erhai Lake has been effectively restored. As of the end of 2022, the water quality of Erhai Lake has been excellent for three consecutive years. Now, Erhai Lake has become a popular destination for eco-tourism.

Erhai Lake in Dali

Erhai Lake's protection contributes to future generations, and its benefits are felt in the present. The reclaimed water plants intercept domestic sewage from entering Erhai Lake and process it nearby. Simultaneously, sunken-type reclaimed water plants achieve green development in surface space, planning and constructing Erhai Lake's supporting tourism facilities. In the protection of Erhai Lake, a new path combining pollution control and green development has been explored, contributing to the construction of Dali's green ecological civilization.