Promote the utilization of sewage resources to solve the three major water problems of water shortage, water environmental pollution and water ecological damage

Water resources shortage, water environment pollution and water ecological damage are the prominent bottlenecks restricting China's high-quality development and the outstanding short board of ecological civilization construction. Sewage resource utilization is an effective measure and multi-win way to solve the above problems, and it is an inevitable requirement for high-quality development.

Through the exchange of advanced experience and practices, field investigation of advanced cases, promotion of advanced technology and operation and maintenance mode, the site will study the deployment and promotion of sewage resource utilization related requirements.

The "Guiding Opinions" fill the gap for promoting the top-level design of sewage resource utilization

Sewage resource utilization refers to the harmless treatment of sewage to achieve specific water quality standards, as a renewable water to replace conventional water resources, used in industrial production, residential life, ecological water replenishment, agricultural irrigation, and extract other resources and energy from sewage. The utilization of sewage resources plays an important role in optimizing water supply structure, increasing water resources supply, alleviating the contradiction between supply and demand, reducing water pollution and ensuring water ecological security.

Su Wei, deputy Secretary-General of the National Development and Reform Commission, stressed at the site that "It is necessary to raise awareness, stand at the height of coordinating the promotion of water resources, water environment, and water ecology, and put the utilization of sewage resources in a more prominent position." The resource utilization of sewage has the characteristics of stable water quantity and controllable water quality, and there are also good international experiences and practices, with remarkable economic, social, ecological and environmental benefits. Promoting the resource utilization of sewage can increase the supply of water resources, alleviate the contradiction between supply and demand of water resources, reduce water pollution, and ensure ecological security. Promoting the utilization of sewage resources is a powerful measure to solve the three major water problems of water shortage, water environmental pollution and water ecological damage in China."

Niu Bo, the second-level inspector of the Environmental Information Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, gave a detailed interpretation of the "Guiding Opinions" from the background and significance of the policy document. Niu Bo pointed out: "The guidelines fill the gap for promoting the top-level design of sewage resource utilization, and put forward the relevant requirements for building a multi-level policy system and a comprehensive institutional mechanism."

Hu Hongying, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Environment, said: "The release of the" Guiding Opinions "marks the rise of sewage resource utilization as a national action plan, is an important landmark document for sewage treatment to enter a new stage of resource utilization, creates new space and new opportunities for the development and transformation and upgrading of the water treatment industry, and provides a new concept and a new model for water environmental pollution control and ecological restoration. It has expanded a new direction and a new stage for water science and technology innovation and academic research."

It is worth mentioning that in order to do a good job in the implementation of the "Guiding Opinions", the General Office of the National Development and Reform Commission recently issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the utilization of sewage Resources" division of labor plan, involving 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, the Ministry of Water Resources and other departments.

For example, in promoting the utilization of sewage resources in key areas, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Ministry of Water Resources took the lead, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology participated in accelerating the utilization of urban domestic sewage resources. Led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources actively promote the resource utilization of industrial wastewater; Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Water Resources participated in steadily promoting the utilization of agricultural and rural sewage resources.

For example, in the implementation of key sewage resource utilization projects, led by the Ministry of Housing and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to participate in the implementation of sewage collection and resource utilization facilities construction projects; Led by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Water Resources participated in the implementation of regional recycled water recycling projects, and formulated pilot implementation plans for regional recycled water recycling.

China Economic Herald reporter learned at this on-site meeting that at present, the relevant departments have actively acted to improve the political position and mission awareness, refine the deployment and compacting responsibilities, and lay a good foundation for the utilization of sewage resources.

The utilization of sewage resources needs to be actively promoted by all localities

The work of sewage resource utilization not only requires comprehensive management departments and industry departments to establish a linkage mechanism with each performing its own duties, each taking its own responsibilities, cooperating with each other and working together, but also requires the active implementation of various localities.

The natural endowment of water resources in Beijing is insufficient, and the serious shortage of water resources is the basic situation of the city. Lai Xianxu, director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, said, "In order to deal with the contradiction of water shortage, Beijing in addition to strengthening production and life water conservation, strengthen the use of external water transfer and other measures, put forward the 'sewage resource strategy', actively promote the utilization of sewage resources, and recycled water has become a stable second water source in Beijing."

"Beijing always regards sewage treatment and resource utilization as an important area of national economic and social development." Lai Xiyu introduced: "Especially in the '14th Five-Year Plan' outline of the emphasis on promoting the efficient use of water resources recycling, requiring the strengthening of the multiple, echelon and safe use of recycled water, improve the capacity of recycled water transmission and distribution."

At the same time, Beijing has innovated investment and financing models to strengthen the utilization of sewage resources. According to Lai Xianyu, "The central urban area is franchised, Beijing Urban Drainage Group is responsible for the investment, construction and operation of recycled water facilities in the central urban area, and the government arranges investment subsidies in accordance with the franchise agreement." In the suburbs, the model of 'enterprise construction and government distribution network' is adopted to realize the comprehensive market-oriented construction and operation of recycled water plants."

It is worth mentioning that in order to enrich the application scenarios of recycled water, Beijing encourages recycled water to serve the high-end manufacturing industry in the capital. "In the central city of Beijing, 100 percent of industrial water has been replaced by recycled water." "Especially in Yizhuang Economic Development Zone, where advanced industries are concentrated, SMIC and other high-tech enterprises have extremely high requirements for water quality and water source stability. In order to save water resources and meet the needs of relevant industrial enterprises, the recycled water is further purified into high-quality recycled water whose water quality is higher than tap water through in-depth treatment, so as to realize the full use of recycled water by high-tech enterprises."

In addition, Beijing has taken a series of effective measures to actively promote the utilization of sewage resources, such as promoting the reform of "discharge and management service" and accelerating the construction of projects for the mutual benefit of sewage resources; Adhere to ecological water control and encourage the return of reclaimed water to nature; Make full use of the price lever and build a price system to encourage the application of recycled water.

The amount of water per capita in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is only half the national average. In this regard, Bao Zhengcao, deputy director of the Ningbo Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said, "Ningbo takes planning as the guide, takes the market as the guide, 'the government sets the stage, the enterprise sings the opera', strengthens the policy support, continues to promote the upgrading of sewage treatment facilities and high-level construction, accelerates the utilization of sewage resources, and vigorously promotes the green innovation and development of sewage treatment enterprises. A number of benchmark companies and landmark projects have emerged."

Ningbo Beilun Yandong Taxation Co., Ltd. is mainly responsible for the collection, treatment, recycling and urban drainage of sewage in Beilun, Ningbo. Since its establishment, the company has been committed to the innovation and exploration of green development and has obtained effective experience. In this regard, Bao Zhengcao introduced: "First, the market-oriented practice of sewage resource utilization, the development of the city's second water source; The second is to innovate technology and expand space land resources; The third is to implement photovoltaic power generation projects to help reduce carbon emissions."

In Xi 'an City, Shaanxi Province, the utilization of sewage resources has achieved certain results, and the ecological benefits, economic benefits and social benefits have been greatly improved, and a new pattern of urban water system has initially formed, namely, Chanba Guangyun Pool in the east, Kunming Pool Feng River in the west, Tangcheng Qujiang Pool in the south, Weiyang Seoul Lake in the north, and moat of Ming and Qing Dynasties in the middle.

Xing Xin, director of Xi 'an Development and Reform Commission, said, "Up to now, Xi 'an has built 32 sewage treatment plants with a daily treatment capacity of 3.481 million cubic meters; 27 sewage treatment plants have been put into operation, with a daily treatment capacity of 3.301 million cubic meters, of which the city 9 district has a daily treatment capacity of 3.145 million cubic meters, and the county county has a daily treatment capacity of 156,000 cubic meters. In 2021, Xi 'an plans to build or expand six sewage treatment plants, with an additional daily treatment capacity of 215,000 cubic meters; The effluent quality of the sewage treatment plant has reached the surface quasi-Class IV standard. 200 kilometers of pipe network were laid, 92 reclaimed water intake hydrants were set up, and the amount of reclaimed water conservancy in the urban area was nearly 200 million cubic meters, with a utilization rate of 26.5%."

Zhou Jianchi, deputy director of Chongqing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, introduced the development of Chongqing sewage resource utilization from three aspects: "System planning, four water co-treatment, Chongqing water environment quality continuous improvement; Urban sewage treatment capacity has been improved in an all-round way. According to local conditions and precise policies, urban sewage resource utilization has walked out of the road of characteristics."

Implement the concept of "water saving means pollution control" and promote the construction of a water-saving society

For the next step, how should various regions and departments implement and promote the utilization of sewage resources, Su Wei stressed that the first is to make overall planning and promote the system. We should promptly organize the formulation of relevant plans or implementation plans, promptly formulate specific plans, and clarify work tasks. It is necessary to promote the construction, operation and management of "plant and network integration" and promote "mud-water co-governance". Second, adopt policies according to local conditions. According to the local natural conditions, resource endowments and water environmental protection requirements, scientific utilization of sewage resources should be carried out. Key river basins, water shortage areas and water environment sensitive areas should scientifically implement upgrading of sewage treatment standards, and build sewage resource utilization facilities according to actual needs. The third is to implement the concept of "water saving means pollution control" and promote the construction of a water-saving society. We will promptly formulate and introduce local plans for building a water-saving society, thoroughly implement national actions to conserve water, and coordinate efforts to conserve water, control pollution, and utilize resources.

Various regions have also developed specific measures for future work. In the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Beijing will achieve carbon reduction synergies as the overall starting point to promote economic and social development of comprehensive green transformation, in the specific work measures, one is in the field of sewage treatment and resource utilization to take the lead in promoting carbon peak, carbon neutrality, give full play to the advantages of high heat value of sewage and recycled water, pilot to carry out waste heat utilization, Simultaneous exploration of sludge energy utilization. The second is to further strengthen the ecological application of recycled water, based on the basic fact of the shortage of water resources in the capital, further increase the research on recycled water purification technology, use ecological ways to treat and utilize recycled water, and further return recycled water to natural circulation. The third is to further improve the reclaimed water pipe network in the central urban area in combination with urban renewal, constantly expand the scope of reclaimed water supply, and replace fresh water.

Xing Xin said that Xi 'an will focus on several tasks in the next step: "First, optimize the recycled water pipe network and improve the utilization rate of recycled water. At the same time, study and formulate the price of recycled water to promote the virtuous cycle of water resources. In addition, it is necessary to attract social capital to participate in the construction of reclaimed water facilities."