Thorough approach seen for 2025 water quality, supply in Zhuhai

Water safety and modern supervision systems will be established by 2025 to keep pace with growth of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), according to the Zhuhai 14th Five-Year Plan for Water Conservancy Reform & Development.

The Water Affairs Bureau released the plan upon approval of the Municipal People's Government. Local water treatment systems will be modernized concerning water resources, safety, environment, ecology, culture, and economy. Prominent problems in the sector will be addressed.

The city plans to invest 46.75 billion yuan ($7.2 billion) in 88 water-related projects, of which 32.25 billion yuan ($4.97 billion) will be spent by 2025. These projects are intended to ensure Macao-Zhuhai water supply, more quickly construct Meixi Water Works pipelines and increase the "intelligent" level of water management.

Jinwan Central River Green Channel[Photo by Zhang Zhou / Zhuhai Media Group]

The increased water regulation, storage, allocation, and production capability will support goals of achieving a population of 5 million people and GDP of 2 trillion yuan ($308.3 billion) by 2035. The city's central area will be made able to withstand floods for 100 years, while characteristic towns are to resist floods for at least 50 years.

Achievements as a National Water-Saving City will be consolidated and the standards extended to all counties and key industries. Water consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,541) in GDP, or added industrial value, is to be reduced by more than 5 percent by 2025.

Remarkable progress is expected in improving water environment quality, supervision, and rural treatment relying on more green channels, linked water systems, comprehensive treatment of key drainage basins, and active chief river and lake systems.

A safe, solid, eco-friendly, and spatially balanced modern hydraulic engineering system is predicted. An efficient and "smart" water governance system is to increase the level of disaster prevention, water resource allocation, water ecology and environmental protection, and industrial supervision.