As water pollution in the Taihu Lake in east China becomes even
deteriorated, Jiangsu provincial government has recently
spelled out even tougher regulations to curb water pollutants
discharged into the big fresh water lake by irresponsible water
polluters around it.
According to the new regulations jointly issued by Jiangsu's
environmental protection bureau and quality supervision, inspection
and quarantine bureau, the new measures will cover the greater
Taihu Lake region that include cities of Wuxi, Changzhou, Suzhou,
Zhenjiang, Danyang, Jurong, and part of Nanjing. The greater Taihu
Lake region is now home to six major industries, including dyeing,
chemical, paper-making, steel-making, plate-making and food
manufacturing, which cause most part of the pollution in the
lake.
The new regulations, which are expected to take effect on Jan
1st, 2008 and are deemed tougher than the national standards,
seriously demand that the COD emissions of all waste waters
discharged by the industries concerned must meet the A level of the
First class national standard limit, requiring the minimum COD
discharge amount of 50-60 mg per litre in sewage disposal.
In order to make the mentioned industries fulfill such rigid
target, Jiangsu provincial government will allocate 2.7 billion
yuan, or about US$357 million, to upgrade its about 170 sewage
treatment plants in the province.
The new regulations demand that by the end of June, 2008 all
cities and towns around the Taihu Lake must build up sewage
disposal plants that release water in line with the tougher
provincial emission limits.
The industries that may fail to meet the existing emission
standards by the end of 2007 will be suspended until their waste
water disposals reach the province's required standard. If they
continue to fail to do so by the end of June, 2008, they will be
shut down for good.
Taihu Lake has been suffering severe algae pollution since the
end of May this year, making the provincial government determined
to carry out stricter moves to control pollution in the Taihu
Lake.
(Shanghai Daily August 1, 2007)
