Zhuhai's system of having water quality managed by river chiefs and lake chiefs has been rated excellent by the province for the third time, the Municipal River Chief System Office announced May 31.

The Leading Group to Comprehensively Promote the River Chief System in Guangdong has assessed the work of 21 cities at prefecture level and above annually since 2018. Water quality indexes, work performance, and public opinion are canvassed to verify information, conduct spot checks, and compile online questionnaires. Only cities scoring more than 90 and rated among the top seven are deemed excellent.

Zhuhai has vigorously been building green channels. Almost 33 km (20 miles) were completed last year, and 86.1 km (54 miles) will be added in 2021. Local green channels will total 221 km (137 miles) by 2022, 265.3 km (165 miles) by 2025, and 594.9 km (370 miles) by 2035.

Baishi Bridge over the Qianshan River [File photo by Wu Changfu]

Additionally, the city has invested 4.29 billion yuan ($673 million) in treatment of the Qianshan River. In all, 71.6 km (44 miles) of municipal pipeline were built or restored, and 536 km (333 miles) of community pipelines installed for rainwater-sewage separation.

River maintenance and dredging, and sewage pipeline installation were addressed , renovation and expansion of the Guangchang Sluice Gate completed, and treatment of the Baishi River Flood Discharge Channel in Nanping Town vastly improved. As a result, water quality at the Shijiaozui Sluice Gate on the Zhuhai-Zhongshan border improved from IV in 2019 to III in 2020, the best level in five years.

Local water quality averaged Class-II surface water standard in the first quarter, and all 17 water bodies previously classified as black and odorous were cleaned up.

Next, Zhuhai will conduct second-phase treatment of the Qianshan River and overall improvements to the Fenghuang and Huangyang river basins managed by three-level river chiefs of the province, city, and district.

And an exhibition hall for green channels of the Xijiang watershed will be built at Sanzao Bay Seawall in Jinwan District to promote green channels and water culture.