China to promote rural sewage treatment programs

2017-07-05
Xinhua

BEIJING — China will promote sewage treatment programs in rural areas as an initial step to improve rural waste water control.

Toilet waste accounts for a small portion of rural waste water, but makes up the largest share of pollution, thus becoming the top priority for treatment, Zhao Hui, senior official with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said on July 5.

Zhao urged local governments to make use of toilet waste, which can be treated to be used as fertilizer for crops.

China chose 100 counties to pilot rural waste water treatment mechanisms in 2015, before promoting their practices nationwide.

The rural waste water treatment level reached 20 percent by the end of 2016, tripling the average annual pace registered during the 2010-2015 period.