Chongqing has seen rapid and successful economic development in the past decade as it was part of the Chinese government's initiative to develop the western part of the country, which affected the municipal's environment. In November 2008, Vice Mayor of Chongqing, Huang Qifan, indicated that government will take the responsibility to improve the environment. He said that between 2002 and 2008, wastewater treatment rate in Chongqing increased from 20% to 70%. This shows significant progress in Chongqing's environmental protection efforts and at the same time reflects promising prospects.
As China's wastewater treatment facilities have matured, the issue of sewage and sludge treatment has surfaced. During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), investment on sludge treatment was only 40% of that spent on wastewater treatment. China's sludge treatment rate is very low. The treatment rate in developed Chinese cities is only 20-25%. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT has expertise and facilities to help the Chinese government tackle the challenge in treating sewage and sludge.
To improve the quality of Chongqing's environment, the plant's daily capacity will be extended to 450,000 cubic meters and is equipped with Degrémont's innovative technology for the management of the sewage sludge.
The project has a daily treatment capacity of 240 tons to digest and dry sewage sludge. Dry, harmless and compact sludge is produced from utilizing advanced technologies and equipment operating with energy recovery system. The plant successfully reduces sludge water content from 80% to 10%. After-treatment dry sludge can be used as an alternative fuel replacing coal.
Chongqing Sino French Tangjiatuo Sewage Treatment Plant marks a milestone for SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT as it was the first municipal sewage project obtained by Sino French Water Development.
