Guangdong Wastewater Treatment Plant, Zhongshan, Guangdong

The Guangdong wastewater treatment plant is located in Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China. It serves a population of approximately 64,000, placing it in the medium agglomeration category for Chinese municipal wastewater infrastructure. As a plant in China, it operates under the national Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (GB 18918-2002), which sets effluent limits based on receiving water sensitivity. For plants serving this population size, secondary treatment with nutrient removal is typically required, especially in environmentally sensitive areas. The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Pearl River Delta, one of China's most economically and ecologically significant regions. The delta supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and bird species.

The plant's treated effluent flows into the Pearl River Delta, a vast network of rivers and estuaries that empties into the South China Sea. This region supports important fisheries and wetland habitats, providing spawning grounds for commercial fish species and serving as a stopover for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.