The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the sixth of which is "Clean Water and Sanitation", namely: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.  (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are eight targets, the third of which is "By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally".

● Current Situation

About the World

Sustainable Waste Water Reuse Management 

Due to excessive demand and serious pollution, the current situation of global water resources is very serious. Global water consumption is expected to increase by 50% by 2030, with the main demand coming from cities. According to the relevant data of the United Nations, more than 80% of the wastewater produced by human activities is discharged into rivers or oceans without treatment. 

Photo source: un.org

Waste water reuse is an important way to practice the concept of sustainable wastewater management, which helps to solve the challenges of food production and industrial development. At present, in many low-income areas and cities in developing countries, most of the sewage is directly discharged into the nearby surface water body in the case of simple pretreatment or even without treatment. This means that urban sewage treatment plants need to upgrade technology and concept in the future.

Text source: 360doc.com

About China

Economic Loss Caused by Water Pollution

In recent years, China's water pollution has become increasingly serious, with 36 billion tons of sewage discharged every year. Except for 70% of industrial wastewater and less than 10% of domestic sewage, the rest of the sewage is directly discharged into rivers, lakes and seas without treatment, resulting in serious deterioration of water quality. 

Photo source: 163.com

The chemical oxygen demand, heavy metals, arsenic, cyanide and volatile phenol in the sewage are on the rise, reaching 95000 km of rivers, 19000 kilometers are polluted, and 5000 kilometers are seriously polluted. The Qingjiang River becomes turbid, the turbid water stinks, and the fish and shrimps disappear. The Songhua River, Huaihe River, Haihe River and Liaohe River are seriously polluted, and 86% of the urban rivers are polluted to varying degrees. Water pollution causes huge economic losses.

Text source: sohu.com

●  Cases

About the World

Transformation of the Seine River

The Paris section of the Seine is 12.8 km long and 30-200 m wide. Paris is gradually developed along both sides of the Seine River. In the urban area, there are stone wharves and wide embankments. More than 30 bridges across the river. There are many tall buildings in the built-up areas on both sides, so it was very difficult to transform the river. 

Photo source: baidu.com

The project management measures were mainly through sewage interception, improvement of urban sewers, reduction of agricultural pollution and river water storage. In addition, according to the needs of water ecological environment protection, the legal system was constantly modified and improved. After comprehensive treatment, the ecological condition of Seine River has been greatly improved, and the biological species have increased significantly.

Text source: sohu.com

Waste Water Treatment in South Africa Mining Industry

Emalahleni, a small town more than 100 kilometers east of Johannesburg, South Africa, is the site of witbank coal mine. It is the coal, steel and power center of South Africa, accounting for 70% of the country's power generation. However, the existence of coal mines also causes the shortage of water supply resources nearby. 

Photo source: xinhuanet.com

Anglo American Mining Company built a water treatment plant there to purify coal mining waste water into drinking water by using membrane infiltration desalination technology. Since the beginning of 2014, the water plant has been able to produce 30 million liters of clean water per day, meeting 12% of the daily water demand of local residents. In addition, gypsum is separated from the treatment process and used as building materials.

Text source: 360doc.com

About China

Waterfront Landscape Reconstruction of Dasha River in Shenzhen

Shenzhen municipal departments at all levels have made great efforts to control river pollution and achieved remarkable results. With the gradual improvement of the water quality of Dasha River, how to improve the river landscape and make people closer to the water has become the focus of further treatment of river pollution. 

Inspired by the history, culture and urban characteristics of Shenzhen, AECOM redeveloped the Dasha River throug improving the quality of the existing greening, structures and facilities on both sides of the river, connecting the bicycle lanes and walks on both sides of the river, creating a flexible public space for experiencing and enjoying the landscape, improving the ecological environment landscape of the city. The reconstruction made the area full of vigor and vitality.

Text and photo source: sohu.com

Garden Style Sewage Treatment Plant

Water environment is the green lifeline of urban development. Shenzhen Honghu Water Purification Plant is a key livelihood project to improve water quality in Shenzhen. It was also the first underground garden type intelligent water purification plant with "unattended, few people patrol" in Shenzhen. 

The high quality effluent from Honghu Water Purification Plant will be discharged into Buji River as ecological make-up water. Relying on the existing landscape of Honghu Park and the ecological environment of Buji River, the landscape belt along Buji river with Honghu Park as the core will be built by adding appropriate hydrophilic platform and landscape design, so as to provide more suitable water friendly and recreational places for the majority of residents.

Text and photo source: sohu.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.