The central trunk water system treatment of Beijing within the Sixth Ring Road has been completed; and the water quality in Beijing has reached Olympic standards, according to the Beijing Water Authority. This achievement is inseparable with the tireless efforts in the reduction of COD emissions which have dropped 5% in the first quarter of this year.
COD, short for chemical oxygen demand, is a common index for water pollution assessment. Qi Jingjun, director of the Department of Water Drainage, under the Beijing Water Authority, said that: "Generally speaking, a higher COD index means more serious water pollution; and the lower the COD index is, the better the water environment is." He also concluded that the achievement on COD emission reduction is due to both the increasing collection rate of polluted water and the reduction of pollutant emissions from the source.
Beijing's urban core sewage treatment system has been established with nine sewage treatment plants and an associated pipeline network in urban areas; and 31 sewage treatment plants located in suburban counties and satellite towns. In 2007, the treated sewage in Beijing reached 990 million cubic meters with a sewage treatment rate of 76% as a whole and 92% in urban areas.
Apart from the increased use of emission reduction projects, Beijing has also stepped up on industrial restructuring and strengthening supervision; suspended a number of enterprises and facilities which cause serious water pollution; and developed relevant regulations and assessment standards to strictly control pollution.
By the end of 2007, 56% of Beijing's urban water system had achieved water quality standards II and III. And 70% of the water surface had met the standard. The water quality of Beijing has met Olympic standards.
By People's Daily Online
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