Reclaimed water powers Weihai's circular economy

A beautiful panorama unfolds with a pink sky, green mountains, and towering buildings. [Photo by Cui Jie, Xiao Mengfan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

To address growing water scarcity, Weihai in Shandong province has been actively promoting the recycling of reclaimed water.

At Weihai Thermal Power Co Ltd's advanced wastewater treatment facility, municipal wastewater undergoes a multi-stage process, including coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration, to remove impurities and produce high-quality reclaimed water. This reclaimed water is then used to supply the city's heating network, replacing the traditional use of potable water. The facility has a capacity of 7 million cubic meters of reclaimed water annually and offers several advantages, including reduced water costs and a longer lifespan for heating pipes due to reduced sediment buildup.

The company is further optimizing its wastewater treatment technology and building an integrated industrial water utilization center to enhance the cascading utilization of industrial wastewater and recirculated wastewater. Additionally, the company has implemented a refined management system to monitor water usage and promptly address any issues, thereby minimizing water consumption.

In recent years, Weihai has been actively promoting the allocation and utilization of reclaimed water, setting minimum utilization targets for both regional and industrial sectors. By prioritizing the development and safe utilization of unconventional water sources and implementing incentive policies for major consumers of water, the city has achieved significant water conservation and promoted sustainable water ecosystems. (Edited by Yang Yingxue)