Wuxi solutions to water pollution worth promotion

In the summer of 2007, large blue-green algae outbroke in Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake, led to black and odorous water. In response, a number of programs were launched in Wuxi to fight against water pollution.

Wuxi's experience in tackling Taihu Lake pollution over the past years has set a national example. The amount of silt that Wuxi has cleared is 70 percent of that of Jiangsu province, said Zhu Shuangqing, director of the Wuxi Water Conservancy Bureau Office.

A dozen algae cleaners work in the Fishing Port Township, Binhu district of Wuxi, which is a critical district for the treatment of Taihu Lake. Most of the workers were fishermen before the lake protection campaign started.

"Algae increases every summer when the wind blows in our direction," said Zhou Guoliang, the 65-year-old leader of the algae cleaner team.

Gu Gang, an officer of Wuxi Taihu Lake water pollution prevention and conyrol office, explained that algae is just one of the indicators to evaluate water quality. "Our aim is not to wipe out algae but to tackle water pollution. The State Council expects us to ensure drinking-water safety and prevent wide-ranging black and smelly water bodies."

Statistics show Wuxi has currently set up 81 fixed algae salvaging sites and 56 professional teams to work with salvaging vessels. The total amount of algae collected in Wuxi from 2007 to 2017 was 90 percent of that of Jiangsu province.

Algae can be useful through employing the latest technological advancements to convert it into resources such as organic fertilizer. Chen Xuqing, director of the Algae Office of the Wuxi Water Conservancy Bureau, noted that the city is employing new channels to deal with algae without harming the environment.

Wuxi has built four water treatment plants in order to ensure drinking-water safety. As a result, the quality of tap water sourced from Taihu Lake has been greatly improved.

Wuxi has also been optimizing the economic structure in the Taihu Lake basin to stop pollution at its source.

It's worth noting that the nationwide river chief system came after the pollution treatment of Taihu Lake. Ji Weizhong from the River Chief Office of Binhu district of Wuxi explained about the innovative management system: in 2008, the city carried out the system at district, town and village levels, with heads of district party committees and governments as general chiefs.

The roll-out of the river chief system enables each river in Wuxi to be supervised.

Water treatment is a long-term matter. Environmental protection and ecological construction have always been funded by the government.

The Wuxi Municipal Government set up a special capital operation platform for the water treatment project of Lihu Lake. The smooth implementation of the project not only enhanced the Lihu Lake area ecology but also promoted the development of the service industry.

In 2015, Wuxi was accredited the title of a National Civilized City. In 2017, it became the first National Civilized City cluster of China together with its subordinate cities of Jiangyin and Yixing.