"I'm proud to say that with this technology, we're on our way to ensuring future generations have the same access to fishing as previous generations."

— Mayor of Zhaoyuan, Zhu Tao

City Overview

Zhaoyuan is a county-level city in Shandong Province, China, located on the Bohai Sea. Zhaoyuan. The city spans an area of 1,432.32 square kilometres and has a population of 560,234 as of 2019.

Municipal Water Situation

Zhaoyuan City recognized the below challenges and has been taking steps since 2010 to address them. This includes investments in wastewater treatment infrastructure, stricter regulations, and initiatives to promote sustainable water management practices. However, the effectiveness of these measures had varying success and more drastic measures needed to be taken.

Challenges and Impacts of Zhaoyuan’s Water

1. Water Pollution

   • Industrial Discharges, high concentration of industries and improper disposal of industrial wastewater lead to water pollution.

   • Urban Runoff, from rapid urbanization and inadequate stormwater management contributed to urban runoff, which carried pollutants into water bodies.

2. Inadequate Wastewater Treatment

   • Treatment Capacity, existing wastewater treatment infrastructure was not be able to handle the volume of wastewater generated in rapidly growing urban areas.

   • Treatment Efficiency, the efficiency was highly variable, and some pollutants were still be discharged into water bodies.

3. Agricultural Runoff

   • Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides, In rural areas surrounding the city, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides contributed to water pollution.

4. Aging Infrastructure

   • Old Sewer Systems, with outdated sewer systems frequent leaks and overflows, lead to the contamination of water sources.

5. Groundwater Contamination

   • Improper Waste Disposal, Improper disposal of solid and hazardous waste led to the contamination of groundwater, affecting both rural and urban areas.

6. Lack of Regulation and Enforcement

   • Enforcement Challenges, Despite having regulations in place, enforcing them consistently across all regions was challenging (time and cost), leading to non-compliance by industries and other stakeholders.

7. Water Scarcity and Competition

   • Increasing Demand, the growing population and industrial activities contribute to increased water demand, leading to over-extraction of water resources and potential pollution.