Guiding opinions on promoting the resource utilization of sewage

I. General requirements

(1) Guiding ideology.  In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and The State Council, the government shall systematically carry out the resource utilization of sewage in urban, industrial, agricultural and rural areas, focusing on water-scarce areas and water-sensitive areas, taking the resource utilization of domestic sewage in urban areas as a breakthrough, and taking industrial utilization and ecological water replenishment as the main channels. It shall do a good job in top-level design, strengthen overall coordination, improve policies and measures, and strengthen supervision and management. Carry out pilot demonstrations to promote the utilization of sewage resources in China to achieve high-quality development.

(2) Basic principles.

Give priority to water conservation and promote it in a coordinated manner. Uphold the concept of "water saving is pollution control", adhere to the priority of water saving, and strengthen the double control of the total amount and intensity of water use. The resource utilization of sewage is regarded as an important content of water saving and open source, and recycled water is included in the unified allocation of water resources, and the resource utilization of sewage is comprehensively and systematically promoted.

Adopt policies based on local conditions and categories. According to the local water resources endowment, water environment carrying capacity, development needs, economic and technical level and other factors, the sewage resource utilization work should be classified and differentiated measures should be implemented. We will determine objectives and tasks in a scientific way, rationally select key areas and ways to use them, and implement supply-by-demand, quality-by-use, and quality-by-quality control.

Government-guided, market-driven. We will strengthen standard constraints, strictly monitor and assess market entities, and standardize their behavior. We will improve the pricing mechanism, increase fiscal and financial incentives, guide private capital input, and give full play to the decisive role of the market in allocating resources.

Scientific and technological guidance, pilot demonstration. We will strengthen scientific and technological support, strengthen research and development of key generic technologies and equipment, and popularize advanced and applicable technologies and processes. We will carry out pilot demonstrations to explore the formation of replicable and scalable sewage resource utilization models.

3. Overall Objectives. By 2025, the national sewage collection efficiency has been significantly improved, the sewage treatment capacity of county towns and cities has basically met the needs of local economic and social development, and the sewage treatment in water-sensitive areas has basically been upgraded. The utilization rate of reclaimed water in water-scarce cities at the prefecture level and above has reached more than 25%, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has reached more than 35%. The reuse of industrial water, manure of livestock and poultry and the utilization of tail water resources in fishery and breeding have been significantly improved. A policy system and market mechanism for the utilization of sewage resources have been basically established. By 2035, a systematic, safe, environmentally friendly and economical sewage resource utilization pattern will be formed.

Second, strive to promote the utilization of sewage resources in key areas

4. Accelerating the utilization of urban domestic sewage resources. Systematic analysis of the growing production, domestic and ecological water demand, based on existing sewage treatment plants, rational layout of reclaimed water utilization infrastructure. In water-rich areas, discharge limits for sewage treatment plants have been scientifically and reasonably determined in light of the needs for improving the quality of the water ecological environment in river basins, with stable and standard discharge being the main focus, and differentiated zoning upgrading and precise pollution control have been implemented. In water-scarce areas, especially water-quality water-scarce areas, on the premise of ensuring the stable discharge of sewage up to the standard, priority should be given to converting the discharge water up to the standard into utilizable water resources, replenishment of natural water bodies nearby, and promoting the recycling of regional sewage resources. Resource-based water shortage areas shall implement water supply and quality based on demand, rationally arrange the layout and construction of sewage treatment plant networks, strictly implement the water quality standards stipulated by the state while promoting the use of recycled water for industrial production and municipal utility, and use recycled water as ecological water supply for rivers, lakes and wetlands by means of step-by-step water replenishment. Water shortage areas that have the conditions can adopt decentralized and miniaturized treatment and reuse facilities, and the domestic sewage in residential communities, schools, enterprises and institutions that are not covered by the municipal pipe network can be treated to meet the standards to achieve nearby reuse. Projects in high-water consumption industries such as thermal power, petrochemical, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, paper making, printing and dyeing, which have the conditions to use recycled water but are not effectively used, shall strictly control the new water intake permits.

(5) Actively promote the resource utilization of industrial wastewater. Carry out water audit, water efficiency standard and water-saving transformation of enterprises, promote the recycling of industrial water use within enterprises, and increase the reuse rate. Promote the integration and optimization of water use systems among enterprises in the park, and realize serial water use, differentiated water use, multi-use of one water and cascade utilization. We will improve the construction of wastewater treatment facilities in industrial enterprises and parks, improve operation and management, and ensure that industrial wastewater is discharged up to standards. We will carry out water quality monitoring, evaluation and water management for the recycling of industrial wastewater, and encourage local and key water enterprises to build smart management platforms for the recycling of industrial wastewater.

6. We will prudently promote the utilization of agricultural and rural sewage resources. Actively explore in line with the rural reality, low-cost rural domestic sewage treatment technology and model. According to the regional location and population concentration, household treatment, village group treatment and inclusion in urban sewage network collection and treatment methods are selected, and modular technology combining engineering and ecology is promoted to promote the nearby and local resource utilization of rural domestic sewage. Promote the combination of planting and breeding, promote the use of treatment methods, adopt economical fertilizer and energy treatment technology to promote the utilization of livestock and poultry waste resources, and encourage the recycling of fishery aquaculture tail water.

3. Implementing key projects for the utilization of sewage resources

(7) Implementation of sewage collection and resource utilization facilities construction projects. Promote the full coverage of urban sewage network, increase the construction of urban sewage collection network, eliminate the blank area of the collection network, and continue to improve the efficiency of sewage collection. Accelerate the construction of sewage collection branch pipe networks and outdoor pipe connections in urban villages, old and old urban areas, and replenish the "capillaries". We will focus on repairing damaged urban sewage networks, upgrading old ones, and upgrading mixed and misconnected urban sewage networks, and gradually improve the diversion of rain and pollution. In key river basins, water-scarce areas and water-sensitive areas, upgrading and capacity expansion of existing sewage treatment facilities will be implemented in light of local water resource endowments and water environmental protection requirements, and sewage resource utilization facilities will be built according to actual needs. New urban areas of water-scarce cities should be planned and distributed in advance according to local conditions, and related construction should be carried out in an orderly manner. Actively promote the construction of harmless sludge resource utilization facilities.

(8) Implementing regional reclaimed water recycling projects. We will promote the construction of a comprehensive treatment system that integrates pollution control, ecological protection, and recycling. Facilities for water purification in constructed wetlands will be built according to local conditions at key points such as downstream of key sewage discharge outlets, at the mouth of a river entering a lake (sea), and at the point where the river flows into the main stream. After further purification and improvement of the discharged and slightly polluted river water that meets the treatment standards, they will be incorporated into the regional water resources allocation management system. It can be used for ecological water replenishment, industrial production and municipal utility in the region. We will actively carry out pilot demonstrations of regional recycled water recycling in water-scarce areas.

(9) Implementing industrial wastewater recycling projects. In water-scarce areas, municipal reclaimed water is regarded as an important source of water for industrial production in the park, and the amount of new water taken is strictly controlled. Promote the cooperation between industrial parks and municipal reclaimed water production and operation units, and plan and equip pipe network facilities. Select areas with severe water shortage to create innovative pilot projects for efficient recycling of wastewater from industrial and urban integration. Where conditions permit, industrial parks should coordinate the comprehensive treatment and resource utilization of wastewater, establish point-to-point water use systems between enterprises, and realize the recycling and graded reuse of industrial wastewater. Focusing on high-water consumption industries such as thermal power, petrochemical, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, paper making, printing and dyeing, organize the utilization of wastewater within enterprises, create a number of industrial wastewater recycling demonstration enterprises and parks, and drive enterprises to improve water efficiency through typical demonstrations.

(10) Implementation of agricultural and rural sewage use promotion and treatment projects. Gradually build and improve agricultural sewage collection, treatment and reuse facilities, and realize nearby irrigation reuse after treatment standards. Focusing on large-scale livestock and poultry farms, we will explore and improve the operation mechanism, carry out the resource utilization of livestock and poultry waste, and promote the circular development of breeding and breeding combined with agriculture and animal husbandry, so that the comprehensive utilization rate of livestock and poultry waste will reach more than 80% by 2025. In the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Pearl River Delta and other areas where conditions permit, the resource utilization of fishery aquaculture tail water should be carried out, focusing on pond aquaculture, and the treatment of aquaculture tail water should be carried out to achieve recycling and discharge up to standards.

(11) Implementing pilot projects for technological innovation in near-zero sewage discharge. Select representative national high-tech industrial development zones (hereinafter referred to as National high-tech Zones) to carry out comprehensive technology integration and demonstration, develop and integrate low-cost, high-performance industrial wastewater treatment technologies and equipment, and create demonstration models of sewage resource technology, engineering and services, management, and policies. In the Yangtze River Delta region, selected electronic information, textile printing and dyeing, chemical materials and other national high-tech zones to take the lead in demonstration, and built a number of national high-tech zones industrial wastewater near zero emission scientific and technological innovation pilot projects by 2025.

(12) Comprehensively carrying out trials and demonstrations for the utilization of sewage resources. Focusing on key and difficult points, pilot demonstrations of recycled water utilization, sludge resource utilization, groundwater recharge, nitrogen and phosphorus extraction and energy resource recovery will be carried out in light of local conditions. Demonstration cities for wastewater resource utilization will be built in cities at prefecture level and above in the Yellow River Basin, and supporting infrastructure will be planned to realize large-scale utilization of recycled water. Pilot projects of reclaimed water utilization and allocation were carried out in typical areas. Through the pilot demonstration, the successful experience is summarized, and the model of sewage resource utilization can be replicated and promoted. Innovate the service model of sewage resource utilization, and encourage third-party service enterprises to provide overall solutions. We will build benchmarking water plants for resources and energy, and carry out trials to recover energy substances from sewage.

Fourth, improve the system and mechanism for the utilization of sewage resources

13. Improving regulations and standards. We will promote the formulation of regulations on water conservation, encourage the utilization of sewage resources, and achieve water saving, open source and emission reduction. We will accelerate the improvement of relevant policies and standards, and incorporate recycled water into urban water supply systems. Promote the formulation and revision of local water pollutant discharge standards, and put forward differentiated pollutant discharge requirements and control measures. We will promptly formulate technical specifications and control requirements for the use of recycled water for ecological water replenishment, and timely revise the series of standards for the classification and quality of sewage resources for other uses. To formulate and revise equipment, engineering and operation standards related to sewage resource utilization.

14. Building a policy system. We will formulate implementation plans for pilot projects for regional recycled water utilization, pilot projects for the utilization and allocation of recycled water in typical areas, pilot projects for industrial wastewater recycling, harmless resource utilization of sludge, and pilot projects for scientific and technological innovation of near-zero discharge of industrial wastewater in national high-tech zones, and refine work priorities and main tasks to form a "1+N" policy system for the utilization of sewage resources. To study and formulate the 14th Five-Year Plan for the utilization of sewage resources and other related plans. To study the statistical methods and systems of sewage resource utilization and establish a scientific and unified statistical system. We will improve the relevant provisions on the assessment of unconventional water use indicators in the total water use control indicators, increase the weight of renewable water and other unconventional water use, and implement classified assessment. We will improve the water intake permit management system, and formulate and implement guidance documents on the supervision and management of sewage discharge outlets into rivers (seas).

15. Improving the price mechanism. Establish a user fee system, liberalize the government's pricing of recycled water, and let recycled water supply enterprises and users independently negotiate pricing in accordance with the principle of high quality and high price. For rivers, lakes and wetlands that provide public ecological and environmental services and use reclaimed water for landscape water, the government is encouraged to purchase services to promote the utilization of sewage resources.

16. Improving fiscal policies. We will increase the input of central financial funds into the utilization of sewage resources. We will support local governments in using special bonds for qualified sewage resource utilization projects. Local governments are encouraged to design diversified mechanisms for ensuring financial investment. Enterprises are encouraged to use green bonds, asset securitization and other means to expand financing channels in accordance with the law. We will prudently carry out trials of real estate investment trusts in the infrastructure sector. Explore the development of project income rights, franchise rights and other collateral financing guarantees. We will implement relevant preferential tax policies.

17. Strengthening scientific and technological support. We will promote the inclusion of key technology research in the national medium - and long-term science and technology development plan and the "14th Five-Year Plan" special plan for ecological and environmental science and technology innovation, and deploy relevant key projects to carry out scientific and technological innovation in sewage resources. Guide scientific research institutes, universities, and sewage treatment enterprises to establish innovative strategic alliances for sewage resource utilization, focusing on breaking through the commonalities of sewage advanced treatment and sludge resource utilization and key technical equipment. Develop advanced and applicable technologies and practical cases for sewage resource utilization, and promote a number of mature processes, technologies and equipment. The catalogue of industrial water-saving technologies, technologies and equipment encouraged by the State shall be published in a timely manner.

V. Safeguard measures

18. Strengthening organization and coordination. In accordance with the requirements of central deployment, provincial overall planning, and city and county responsibility, we will promote the implementation of the guidelines. Consolidate local responsibilities, and the provincial (regional and municipal) governments will promptly organize the formulation of relevant plans or implementation plans; City and county governments bear the main responsibility, formulate plans, clarify tasks, and ensure the smooth completion of all work. The National Development and Reform Commission will strengthen comprehensive coordination, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the General Administration of Market Regulation and other departments will do a good job in accordance with their respective responsibilities. We will strengthen coordination in the conservation and intensive use of water resources, the prevention and control of water pollution, the protection of water ecology, the utilization of sewage resources, and the construction of related environmental infrastructure, form joint efforts, and coordinate solutions to relevant major problems.

19. Strengthening supervision and management. We urge relevant parties to strictly implement the dual control degree of total and intensity of water use in regional river basins, strengthen the assessment of water resources management and the management of water access, and ensure that the National Water-saving Action Plan is implemented. We will strictly supervise the implementation of the requirements for incorporating recycled water into the unified allocation of water resources. Strictly manage self-provided Wells, and close self-provided Wells that are not approved and covered by public water supply network within a prescribed time according to law. We will improve the whole process monitoring system for the quality of sewage resources, strengthen the supervision of sewage treatment and discharge to meet standards, and gradually establish a risk prevention and early warning system covering the whole process of sewage resources, so as to ensure the safe utilization of sewage resources.

20. Intensify publicity efforts. Combined with the World Water Day, China Water Week, National Urban Water Conservation Publicity Week and other thematic publicity activities, extensive and in-depth publicity work has been carried out in various forms to strengthen science popularization and education, improve the public's awareness and recognition of sewage resource utilization, eliminate public concerns, and increase the willingness to use. Improve the public participation mechanism, give full play to the role of public opinion supervision, social supervision and industry self-discipline, and create a good atmosphere for the whole society to participate in the utilization of sewage resources.