Guangdong Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jiexi County, Guangdong Province

The Guangdong wastewater treatment plant is located in Jiexi County, part of Jieyang City in Guangdong Province, China. It serves a population equivalent of 116,000, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under Chinese wastewater management frameworks. As a facility in China, the plant is subject to the Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (GB 18918-2002), which sets effluent limits for conventional pollutants and nutrients. For agglomerations of this scale, secondary treatment with nutrient removal is typically required, especially in sensitive watersheds. The plant discharges into local waterways that ultimately drain into the South China Sea via the Han River system or coastal streams. The region supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is important for fisheries and agriculture, making effective treatment critical for downstream water quality.

The plant's treated effluent flows into local rivers and streams within the Han River basin, which empties into the South China Sea near the Guangdong coast. This coastal zone supports mangrove forests, estuarine habitats, and important fisheries. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication in coastal waters, so advanced treatment is beneficial for protecting marine biodiversity.