Overview
Qinghai wastewater treatment plant serves 310,000 people in Yunjiazhen, Xining, Qinghai, China. It operates under China's national wastewater standards for large agglomerations.
The Qinghai wastewater treatment plant is located in Yunjiazhen (韵家口镇), a town within the Chengdong District of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province in western China. The facility serves an estimated population of 310,000, classifying it as a large-scale municipal treatment plant under Chinese wastewater regulations. As a plant serving over 300,000 people, it is subject to China's Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (GB 18918-2002), which mandates secondary treatment with nutrient removal for plants of this scale. Typical facilities in this tier employ activated sludge processes with biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal to meet Class 1A or 1B effluent standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Huangshui River, a tributary of the Yellow River (Huang He). The Yellow River basin is ecologically significant, supporting agriculture, industry, and aquatic life in arid northwestern China. The plant plays a critical role in protecting downstream water quality in this sensitive watershed.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent flows into the Huangshui River, a major tributary of the upper Yellow River. The Yellow River basin in Qinghai is a vital water source for northern China and supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including endemic fish species. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management crucial for both ecological health and human use. Downstream, the Yellow River traverses several provinces before reaching the Bohai Sea, making pollution control at this plant important for the entire river system.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Yunjiazhen (韵家口镇), Chengdong District, Xining, Qinghai Province, China. Its address is near the 14th Middle School of Xining, along the Beijing-Tibet Expressway.
The plant serves approximately 310,000 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under Chinese wastewater regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Huangshui River, a tributary of the Yellow River. The plant's discharge must meet China's Class 1A or 1B standards for municipal wastewater.
The plant operates under China's Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (GB 18918-2002). For plants serving over 300,000 people, secondary treatment with nutrient removal is required, and effluent limits are set to protect the Yellow River basin.
Plants of this scale in China typically use activated sludge processes with biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Advanced treatment may include tertiary filtration or disinfection to meet Class 1A standards, especially in environmentally sensitive areas like the Yellow River basin.
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