The Development of Rural Domestic Wastewater Treatment in China

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the foundations of China’s national economy. The rural population is more than half of China’s total population. However, rural domestic wastewater treatment has not been solved, mostly household wastewater untreated directly discharged into nearby surface water bodies. With the development of rural economy, domestic wastewater treatment has become a serious problem in rural sustainable development in China. Emission characteristics and status of rural domestic wastewater treatment in China were presented in this paper. On this basis, several rural wastewater treatment technologies commonly used were reviewed in China rural area, including septic tanks, land treatment system, methane-generating pit, stabilization lagoon and constructed wetland. The current problems and future development in rural domestic wastewater treatment were discussed, and some suggestions proposed. On the one hand, new integrated technology should be actively developed in rural domestic wastewater. On the other hand, the management of rural domestic wastewater should be strengthened. Thus, effective protection will be provided for the sustainable development of rural areas in China.