In May 2017, SIP Lvse Jiangnan Public Environment Concerned Centre received a report from a resident in Tangqiao Town, Zhangjiagang City, reflecting that the Changbang River, located in Group 11 of Lu Dang, Zhou Xiang Village, Tangqiao Town, Zhangjiagang, on State Road 204, was polluted. There is a company (Zhangjiagang Junfeng Glass Company) that pollutes the river for a long time. The company discharges sewage and pungent odor every day, which has a serious impact on the health and living environment of the surrounding residents.
PECC’s researchers immediately came to the site to conduct research. After removing the weeds as tall as one person and stepping into the river site, they saw a shocking river scene. The river was basically filled with industrial waste and industrial waste oil, with thick yellow, red and black industrial waste oil extending to every corner of the river. The industrial waste has been soaked with waste oil and deformed beyond recognition, and can be seen everywhere. The pungent smell of various industrial waste oils and industrial wastes mixed together, which made people feel very uncomfortable. It is difficult to imagine that such a scene is happening in the southern part of Jiangsu.
Figure 1: The river is polluted by oil and garbage
Figure 2: The river is polluted by black sewage
On May 31st, 2017, PECC submitted the “Research Report on Water Pollution in Tangqiao Town, Zhangjiagang” to the relevant environmental protection bureau.
On June 9th, 2017, Qin Guoping, deputy director of Zhangjiagang Environmental Protection Bureau, Du Suojun, deputy mayor of Tangqiao Town, Zhangjiagang City, came to PECC. These three parties had an on-site dialogue on the “Research Report on Water Pollution in Tangqiao Town, Zhangjiagang” submitted by PECC to Zhangjiagang Environmental Protection Bureau.
Figure 3: PECC has a face-to-face communication with Zhangjiagang Environmental Protection Bureau
On June 13th, 2017, PECC’s researchers came to the site again to investigate and found that the site had begun to be rectified, and the river interception and silt removal work was initially in progress. The local environmental protection bureau has ordered the factory involved in cutting the cooling water for recycling and not discharging it, to stop sewage discharge, and excavate the river channel. The river channel has been significantly improved compared with the past. At the same time, PECC communicated with the relevant staffs of the Environmental Protection Bureau to exchange their ideas and opinions.
Figure 4: PECC communicated with the staffs of Zhangjiagang Environmental Protection Bureau on site
On July 13th, 2017, the staffs from PECC conducted an on-site investigation on the governance of Guangjingshao River. The overall work of the environmental governance has been basically completed, and the follow-up environmental restoration and ecological governance need to be improved.
On July 15th, 2017, PECC came to the river channel polluted by Junfeng Glass in Zhangjiagang. It can be seen on the scene that a wooden stake has been erected at the junction of the river channel and the factory. The mayor of Tangqiao Town said that in the future, the junction will be filled with concrete, and at the same time, the sewage outlet of the enterprise will be blocked to completely solve the problem of pollution discharge there. PECC said that the governance should start from the root, and need a one-time eradication, otherwise it will have a negative impact on the public.
Figure 5: A wooden stake was erected at the junction of the river and the factory
On August 28th, 2017, PECC came to the river channel polluted by Junfeng Glass to investigate and found that the treatment of the place has basically ended. The surrounding residents have also been relocated due to government planning. The junction of the river and Junfeng Glass has been paved with reinforced concrete to completely cut off the source of pollution, and the water in the river has returned to green. But at that time, PECC also found that the enterprise discharged water into the river. Local government officials said that this water is the domestic sewage of Junfeng Glass. The next step will be to connect the domestic sewage of the enterprise to the pipe network and completely solve the pollution problem of the river.
Figure 6: Remediation of the river is coming to an end
On September 29th, 2017, PECC received a document reply from Zhangjiagang Environmental Protection Bureau, the details are as follows:
Figure 7: The document reply from Zhangjiagang Environmental Protection Bureau
On October 14th, 2017, PECC once again came to Zhangjiagang Tangqiao Town to conduct an on-site investigation on water pollution. It was verified that after 4 months of environmental treatment, the river has returned to normal. At present, the rectification work has been fully completed, and the total cost of remediation is 11.5 million yuan.
Figure 8: The remediation of the river has been completed
This project is a project of protecting water source Alibaba Foundation’s “Qingyuan Action”
Thanks to Alibaba Foundation for its financial support. The content and opinions in this article only represent the author’s personal views and have nothing to do with the position or policies of Alibaba Foundation.