■ Reuse of reclaimed water has become an important way to alleviate urban water shortage. At the same time, Xinjiang is also actively "unlocking" new water-saving skills at the source to develop and use urban water resources more scientifically and rationally.

■ For the improvement of non resident users' water-saving awareness, Xinjiang is ahead. In 2018, the Development and Reform Commission of the Autonomous Region and the Department of Housing and Urban Rural Development of the Autonomous Region jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Progressive Price Increase System for Over quota Urban Non residential Water Use in Our Region.

■ With the help of new generation wireless network, Internet of Things, big data cloud computing and other information technologies, digital and intelligent management and operation of water treatment facilities have become an important means to improve the efficiency of urban water resources utilization in Xinjiang.

The importance of water cannot be overemphasized for cities in Xinjiang, which are located in oases of all sizes.

Historically, this land has staged many stories about the prosperity and decline of cities due to water. Loulan Ancient City, Niya Ruins... The once glorious civilization lies quietly in the deep desert, leaving people deep thinking.

The past has lasted for thousands of years. Today, the urbanization process of Xinjiang is more than any time in history, but the problem of water is still a huge test on the road of development. Fortunately, today's cities have more advanced and abundant means, and are making various efforts and explorations on water saving.

Turn waste into treasure

Reclaimed water use expansion scope

On May 11, at the time of the 33rd "National Urban Water Conservation Publicity Week", Urumqi Chengbei Recycled Water Co., Ltd., a park like plant, welcomed a new batch of visitors.

"The shrubs and trees are dense, and the plump koi swim freely. Unexpectedly, the picturesque scenery is the result of the utilization of reclaimed water." Yan Hucai, a Urumqi citizen, sighed after visiting the largest reclaimed water treatment plant in Xinjiang.

Reuse of reclaimed water refers to non drinking water that can be reused after proper treatment of wastewater or sewage.

In February 2022, the Pilot Implementation Plan for Regional Recycled Water Recycling in the Autonomous Region was issued, focusing on four water scarce cities, Urumqi, Karamay, Hami and Turpan, to carry out pilot demonstration of regional recycled water recycling. In December 2023, Urumqi and Hami were shortlisted as the second batch of pilot cities for regional renewable water recycling by the Ministry of Ecological Environment.

In 2023, the amount of reclaimed water in Urumqi using the Chengbei reclaimed water plant as the water source will be 26.38 million cubic meters. Including: 10.85 million cubic meters for industry and 15.53 million cubic meters for urban greening.

In addition to being used for urban greening, Xinjiang is constantly exploring the evolution of reclaimed water wetlands to promote the recycling of water resources in industrial enterprises and industrial parks.

In Karamay, the second sewage treatment plant discharges more than 20 million cubic meters of reclaimed water up to the standard every year, making the ancient sea ecological park full of vitality. The vast reeds, red willows and flying birds have become a good place for science popularization and citizens to relax.

In Fukang City, an investment of 43.4 million yuan has been made to build an integrated sewage treatment station at six locations, including Zhundong Wucaiwan Dairy Farm and Yaochi Garden. The annual sewage treatment capacity is 1.152 million cubic meters, which can meet the water demand of 2304 mu of green water, and also take into account the water demand for urban sanitation, site dust reduction, etc.

The utilization of reclaimed water has become an important way to alleviate the urban water shortage. At the same time, Xinjiang is also actively "unlocking" new water-saving skills at the source to develop and use urban water resources more scientifically and rationally.

Mechanism guidance

Many water-saving measures at the source

On the basis of implementing the reconstruction project of "one smart water meter for one household" in Yizhou District of Hami City, the stepped water price system for residents' living will be implemented from 2019.

"0-96 cubic meters (including) will be charged at 1.8 yuan/cubic meter, 97-132 cubic meters (including) will be charged at 2.64 yuan/cubic meter, and more than 132 cubic meters will be charged at 3.48 yuan/cubic meter." Yang Tao, manager of the production technology department of Xinjiang Hami Water Affairs Co., Ltd., said that this standard is based on one family with three members. For families with a large population, corresponding documents or materials should be provided, The base of stepped water volume can be increased by 29 cubic meters every year.

"The replacement of residents' smart water meters and the implementation of stepped water prices are conducive to real-time monitoring of residents' water use." Yang Tao said that residents can view monthly water use data and purchase water through WeChat official accounts, commercial banks and business halls.

"Elderly people no longer have to queue up to buy water, and children can recharge the water meter through their mobile phones." Shi Xinli, a resident of Cuijingyuan Community, Yizhou District, Hami City, said that after installing smart water meters, her awareness of water-saving has become stronger and stronger, saving about 20 cubic meters of water every year.

For the improvement of non resident users' water-saving awareness, Xinjiang is ahead. In 2018, the Development and Reform Commission of the Autonomous Region and the Department of Housing and Urban Rural Development of the Autonomous Region jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Progressive Price Increase System for Over quota Urban Non residential Water Use in Our Region.

Fukang, the first county-level city in Xinjiang to successfully establish a water-saving city in the autonomous region, has invested 100 million yuan in four years since 2020 to comprehensively promote the separation of drinking water and irrigation, and build a 48 km main network of green water.

"Fukang has access to 195 co construction units and 57 community greening water, realizing the complete separation of urban greening water and drinking water supply from the source to the end," said Wu Di, deputy secretary of the Party Leadership Group and director of the Housing and Urban Rural Development Bureau of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

In Karamay, where industrial water consumption accounts for more than 50% of the total water consumption in the city, Xinjiang Oilfield Company and other enterprises have become major water users.

"The company incorporated water-saving work into the overall development plan of the enterprise, constantly optimized and adjusted the operation mode of equipment and water circulation system, and improved the reuse rate of water resources." Zhang Quan, the second level director of the QHSE Department of Xinjiang Oilfield Company, introduced.

In 2023, Xinjiang Oilfield Company will save a total of 365000 cubic meters of water, reduce the proportion of total industrial water in total urban public water supply in Karamay from 50% to 36%, and achieve ecological and economic win-win.

Wisdom blessing

More sophisticated water-saving management

"Managers can monitor and patrol the operation of the whole process and equipment through a tablet computer." On May 11, Chen Jian, general manager of Urumqi Chengbei Renewable Water Co., Ltd., introduced to the audience at the central control room.

As the largest reclaimed water treatment plant in Xinjiang, it not only has advanced A/O biological pool+MBR membrane biological reaction process, but also realizes intelligent operation of whole process unmanned management.

With the help of new generation wireless network, Internet of Things, big data cloud computing and other information technologies, digital and intelligent management and operation of water treatment facilities have become an important means to improve the efficiency of urban water resources utilization in Xinjiang.

Turpan People's Hospital has successively invested 128000 yuan to establish a water and energy consumption monitoring platform, and timely carried out dynamic analysis on instantaneous flow, daily cumulative flow, monthly cumulative flow, and annual cumulative flow, saving about 150000 yuan in water supply facility maintenance throughout the year.

Fukang City invested 95.05 million yuan to establish a water supply dispatching monitoring system covering the whole city, realizing real-time monitoring and data collection of water sources, water plants, pipe networks, booster pump stations, remote household meters, etc.

Karamay City has installed more than 20 kinds of 3592 intelligent IOT devices in the water supply system, built 276 DMA grid communities, and established a network wide accurate hydraulic model system.

"We have carried out digital dynamic management for more than 9000 wells and chambers in the city, realizing the fine management of intelligent regulation and scientific scheduling of urban pipe networks." Li Weiku, director of the production and operation department of Karamay Water Affairs Co., Ltd., introduced that the leakage rate of Karamay water supply pipe network has been lower than 5% for many years, reaching the national leading level.

On May 1, 2024, China's first administrative regulation comprehensively regulating water conservation, the Regulation on Water Conservation, was officially implemented, which clearly included the completion of water conservation goals in the assessment of local governments and their responsible persons.

According to the requirements of the autonomous region, by 2025, 20% of the cities or counties (except the cities where the prefectures and municipal people's governments are located) throughout Xinjiang will meet the standards of water-saving cities in the autonomous region.

The current goal has been clear, but for cities in Xinjiang, which are located in ecologically fragile areas, water-saving is a must answer question that has not been handed in, and will be tested for a long time. In the future, we will unlock more "customs clearance secrets" and continue to work hard with the attitude of always on the road. (Wang Yayun)

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