The newly built industrial wastewater treatment plant in the Jiangyan Economic Development Zone has become a key driver of local enterprise growth since the completion and operation of its first phase one year ago.
An aerial view of the industrial wastewater treatment plant in Jiangyan. [Photo/tznews.cn]
Over the past year, the plant has removed 6,822 metric tons of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), 635.1 tons of ammonia nitrogen, and 68.62 tons of total phosphorus — a total reduction of more than 7,500 tons of pollutants. The project has led to significant improvements in nearby river water quality, with over 95 percent of residents expressing satisfaction with water safety.
One of the direct beneficiaries is Jiangsu Jiasheng Dyeing & Weaving, located within the Jiangyan EDZ. The company, specializing in fabric weaving, dyeing, and finishing, discharged over 67,000 tons of wastewater last year. Previously, its treated wastewater had to be sent to the urban sewage treatment plant in Jiangyan, which handled both industrial and domestic sewage and had a daily capacity limit of 60,000 tons. During the rainy season, the company often faced discharge restrictions, forcing it to cut production and cancel orders.
The new industrial wastewater treatment plant, with a daily processing capacity of 40,000 tons in its first phase, now connects directly to enterprise pipelines, eliminating discharge bottlenecks. According to Wang Yong, deputy general manager of Jiasheng Dyeing & Weaving, the plant has allowed the company to operate at full capacity, and its sales revenue is expected to increase by 20 percent year-on-year. He also said that the modern facility, designed with ecological aesthetics, "functions like a clean, scenic water park — a refreshing landmark for the entire zone".
The plant has also attracted new investment. The Dongrui New Materials project, with a total investment of 500 million yuan ($70.18 million), chose to locate in the Jiangyan EDZ largely because of the wastewater facility.
Xi Xin, chairman of Dongrui New Materials, said that wastewater treatment infrastructure was a decisive factor when the company sought to expand production in late 2021. He said, "Upon learning that the zone planned to build a dedicated industrial wastewater plant, we quickly decided to invest, saving our company several million yuan in environmental costs."