Overview
Xinjiang Uygur wastewater treatment plant serves 182,000 people in 兰干乡, 库尔勒市, China. It operates under China's national wastewater standards for large agglomerations.
The Xinjiang Uygur wastewater treatment plant is located in 兰干乡 (Lenger), a township within 库尔勒市 (Korla), in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, China. The facility serves a population of 182,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under Chinese wastewater regulations. As a plant serving over 100,000 people, it is expected to meet the discharge standards set by China's Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (GB 18918-2002). This standard requires secondary treatment as a baseline, with tertiary treatment often mandated in sensitive watersheds or regions with water quality concerns. Its scale implies a robust treatment infrastructure. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tarim River basin, the largest inland river basin in China. The Tarim River flows through the Taklamakan Desert and terminates at Taitema Lake, supporting fragile desert ecosystems and agricultural communities. Proper treatment is critical to prevent pollution in this arid region where water resources are scarce and ecological sensitivity is high.
Environmental context
The plant's receiving water body is part of the Tarim River basin, which drains into Taitema Lake in the eastern Taklamakan Desert. This watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting riparian forests of Populus euphratica (diversiform-leaved poplar) and providing habitat for migratory birds. The arid climate and limited water flow make the system vulnerable to pollution, necessitating effective wastewater treatment to protect downstream ecosystems and agricultural water use.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in 兰干乡 (Lenger), a township under 库尔勒市 (Korla), in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, China.
The plant serves a population of 182,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under Chinese wastewater regulations.
The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Tarim River basin. The Tarim River flows through the Taklamakan Desert and ends at Taitema Lake.
The plant operates under China's Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (GB 18918-2002), which mandates secondary treatment for large agglomerations and may require tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is the minimum standard under GB 18918-2002. In environmentally sensitive watersheds like the Tarim basin, tertiary treatment is often implemented to reduce nutrients and protect water quality.
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