Guian New Area pledges to improve environment

The Guian New Area – located in Southwest China's Guizhou province – released its 2020 report on the environment on June 5, in which it found that the local conditions as a whole were continuing to improve.

The report found that last year the area's water quality remained stable and seven water quality monitoring stations were established, while rivers in the area were graded at the Class III standard (high quality) or above. The area's centralized drinking water sources also met quality standards.

The report also found that the excellent and good air quality rate in the region reached 99.1 percent in 2020.

On land, a total of 21 monitoring stations were installed at local four main thoroughfares, and these reportedly demonstrated that environmental noise and road traffic noise met national standard last year.

In 2020, the Guian New Area was found to have upheld the fundamental principles for a healthy environment and green development, and it reportedly intensified its efforts in pollution prevention and control.

According to its 2020 report on the environment, the area fully completed the registration of companies discharging pollutants in all its industries.

In the battle against air pollution, the area maintained its focus on diesel trucks and completed the registration of 1,032 non-road mobile vehicles. It also further promoted the control of volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases.

With regards to water pollution, the area investigated local centralized drinking water sources and newly-built water supply projects in local villages, which reportedly followed high standards of construction. One example the report cited was the restoration of the Songbaishan reservoir, which was completed last year with support funding.

In terms of soil protection, dynamic monitoring of irrigated agricultural land, industrial parks and sewage-treatment plants was carried out. The report said remedial work for the safe utilization of polluted farmland covered 56,105 mu (3,740 hectares).

The report found that the area completed improvements to three solid waste sites. Some 41 companies whose production generates hazardous waste were invited by the authorities to receive training on handling their effluent.

Elsewhere, villages continued to benefit from the introduction of sewage treatment – work which has to date benefited an estimated 23,503 people.

The report found that overall, the Guian New Area was maintaining an excellent environment and that its environment was continuing to improve.