Evaluation on the Current Situation of Integrated Treatment of Rural Sewage in China: A Case Study of Anhui Province

Abstract

In 2017, China began to comprehensively control rural water pollution in two steps, and aims to complete the purification of rural domestic sewage by the end of 2030. The short-term goal was to implement rural drinking water safety as soon as possible, and the medium-term and long-term goals were to completely block all kinds of pollution sources. Based on the field survey data, a variety of mathematical models were established to evaluate the progress of rural sewage treatment, the operation efficiency of sewage treatment facilities and the current situation of water pollution in China. The results show that the short-term goal has been basically achieved. The rural tap water penetration rate has reached 98%, and about 95% of the water has reached the drinking standard. About 70% of the groundwater is safe for bathing. However, the rural economy is weak, the residence is scattered and the unit sewage treatment cost is high, so it is very difficult to implement rural sewage treatment. The implementation of medium-term and long-term goals is slow, especially the treatment rate of agricultural non-point source sewage and domestic sewage is generally low, and surface water such as rural ponds and reservoirs basically belongs to Class IV or Class V. The study found that the key to the poor effect and slow progress of sewage treatment is the lack of economic support. It is suggested that the government should further increase investment in rural sewage treatment facilities.