Hunan Wastewater Treatment Plant, Yuanling County, Hunan Province

The Hunan wastewater treatment plant is located in Yuanling County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province, China. It serves a population of 100,000, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under Chinese wastewater management standards. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are governed by China's national discharge standards and local environmental protection regulations. As a plant serving 100,000 people, it is expected to meet secondary treatment requirements under China's Standards for Discharge of Pollutants from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (GB 18918-2002). Typical facilities of this scale employ biological treatment methods such as activated sludge to reduce organic pollutants and nutrients before discharge. The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Yuan River basin, which ultimately flows into Dongting Lake and then the Yangtze River. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting water quality in a major river system that supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for millions of people.

The plant's treated effluent enters the Yuan River system, a tributary of Dongting Lake, which is a critical wetland and floodplain in the Yangtze River basin. Dongting Lake supports rich biodiversity, including migratory birds and fish species, and plays a key role in flood regulation. The plant's discharge must comply with national standards to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream water quality.