Xinjiang Uygur Wastewater Treatment Plant, Yining County, Xinjiang

The Xinjiang Uygur wastewater treatment plant is located in Yining County (Ghulja), within the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, China. The facility serves a population of approximately 93,000 people, placing it in the medium-to-large agglomeration category for the region. As a Chinese municipal wastewater plant, it is subject to the Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (GB 18918-2002), which sets effluent limits for conventional pollutants, nutrients, and heavy metals. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into a local watercourse within the Ili River basin, which flows westward into Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan. The Ili River is a vital water source for both China and Kazakhstan, supporting irrigated agriculture and unique riparian ecosystems. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream water quality in this transboundary basin.

The plant is situated in the Ili River basin, a major transboundary watershed that drains from the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang into Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan. The Ili River supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and drinking. Downstream, the river delta and Lake Balkhash host important wetland habitats for migratory birds and fish species. The plant's discharge must meet China's national standards to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect the ecological health of this shared water system.