Shaoguan Achieving Impressive Progress in Air Pollution Control
Under Guangdong Province’s development framework of“Pearl River Delta Core Development Area, Coastal Economic Zone and Ecological Development Zone”, Shaoguan City is the backbone of the northern ecological development zone. Shaoguan Municipality has been thoroughly implementing the concept of high-quality development and upholding the concept of "Clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver". In the fourth quarter of 2019, Shaoguan city made a vigorous effort to resolutely win the battle against pollution control and protect the "Shaoguan Blue".
Ⅰ. Environmental Conditions
⑴Atmospheric Environment
In 2019, the excellent rate of Shaoguan's ambient air quality index (AQI) was 92.6%, hitting the annual assessment target of 92%. It is one of the nine cities which passed the annual assessment, with no record of moderate or severe pollution occurred throughout the year. Six assessment indicators have reached the national standard II.The average annual concentration of PM2.5 in urban areas is 29 micro grams per cubic meter, a 12.1% decrease compared with the same period of last year. The average annual concentration of PM10 is 43 micro grams per cubic meter, a 4.4% decrease compared with the same period of last year. The comprehensive index ranked 12th among the 21 prefecture-level cities in the province, up 4 places compared with last year, making the largest improvement in the province.
⑵Environmental Quality of Surface Water
Shaoguan has 2 municipal centralized drinking water sources, namely Wujiang Shiliting, Qujiang Cangcun Reservoir and 7 county-level centralized drinking water sources, Shixing Huashan Reservoir, Gaoping Reservoir, Wengyuanyuan Dongshui, Ruyuan Nanshui Reservoir, Nanxiong Waterfall Reservoir, Lechang Zhangtan Dam-upstream 780 meters, Xinfeng Baishuiyu Reservoir. The water quality of all these sources reached the control standard of drinking water. In 2019, Shaoguan City's 13 surface water assessment sections that were included in the provincial assessment all met the water quality standards. The urban area is free of black and odorous water.
⑶Soil Environmental Quality
In 2019, the city safely utilized 100% of its polluted land, and 90% of its polluted arable land; the emissions of key heavy metals in key industries decreased by 38.84% compared with 2013, with the annual heavy metal pollution reduction targets and task being completed.
⑷Emission Reduction of Major Pollutants
Preliminary calculations showed that the chemical oxygen demand has decreased by 9.9% compared to 2015, ammonia nitrogen has fallen by 10%, sulfur dioxide has fallen by 10.5%, and nitrogen oxides have fallen by 1.57%, all of which have reached the provincial annual targets for pollution control in 2019.
Ⅱ.Measures and Actions
⑴In-depth implementation of air pollution prevention and control, new rules to keep skies blue
Shaoguan city adheres to the problem-oriented approach, and continues to focus on efforts in all aspects through implementing new rules. Such as the prevention and control of dust pollution, the promotion of the reduction of brick factories and imposing restrictions on their emissions in the three districts under the jurisdiction of the municipality and factories in the suburban areas. Strictly controlled the use of fireworks and firecrackers, further expanded the banned areas for fireworks and firecrackers. Strengthened the management of polluting industrial enterprises (sites), with 511 polluting industrial enterprises (sites) having all been renovated. The open-air incineration control has been continuously strengthened. As of December 31, 138 open-air incinerations were found and controlled. Meetings have been regularly held to conduct consultations on air quality control and a new air quality warning system has been put into place.
⑵Continuously improve water quality, work tirelessly for lucid water
The city implements systematic governance over water quality control and comprehensively promotes water pollution prevention. Related government departments are required to oversee and strengthen environmental protection in water source areas while 60 problems existed at municipal and county-level drinking water sources have all been rectified and resolved. Regular monitoring of water quality has been carried out, with a key water source early-warning monitoring system being established. The construction of water source areas is under standardization, while regular evaluation of environmental conditions in water source areas are being implemented. The city is also fully promoting the control over pollution regarding agricultural and rural water, working intensively to improve the rural environment. In order to control the pollution caused by livestock and poultry breeding, banned areas for livestock and poultry breeding have been set up in each county and management standards have been put into effect.
⑶Promote the prevention and control of soil pollution
Access to construction land has been strictly controlled by the municipality with a mechanism of construction land management being established and put into effect. Based on the results of detailed investigations of the soil pollution status of key industries and enterprises, the city carried out supervision and management of the use of land, controlling the environmental risks of the construction land. The city also promoted the pollution control of heavy metal industry. As of December 31, about 81.82% of the 145 heavy metal pollution control tasks and 42 pollution control supervision tasks was completed, and the source of heavy metal pollution was effectively contained. The inspection and rectification of industrial solid waste storage sites has also been strengthened, with 15 industrial solid waste storage sites being inspected and 7 sites being rectified.
⑷Promote full coverage of supervision and law enforcement in environmental protection
In 2019, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau strengthened the environmental supervision and law enforcement, kept close eyes on the public feedback about environmental issues and carried out special inspections on enterprises that have been issued License of Discharging Pollutants in 2017 and 2018. Inspections on enterprises that manufacture dangerous chemicals and chemical parks' were carried out to find out and solve environmental safety problems. As of December 31st, a total of 13,467 law enforcement personnel have been dispatched, 4703 inspections have been conducted, and 163 investigations have been filed, 89 cases were closed, 19 enterprises were closed down, 5 cases were transferred to the public security offices, a fine of 7770,460 yuan was imposed, and 427 enterprises were rectified.
Under the strong leadership of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Shaoguan city will continue to conscientiously implement the Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, adhere to the problem-oriented mindset, and win the three major battles against air, water and soil pollution with greater determination, stricter measures, and more practical style of work, making the skies bluer, the mountains greener, waters clearer and the environment more beautiful in Shaoguan.
December 10th to 12th, 2019, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment visited Shaoguan to carry out investigation on the work of soil pollution prevention and control
December 6th, 2019, Zhou Dequan, Party Secretary of the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, led a team to investigate the work on environmental protection in Shaoguan
November 18th, 2019, Li Hongjun, Secretary of the Shaoguan Municipal Party Committee, investigated the air station in Shaoguan University
November 29th, 2019, the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau held a training session on environmental protection laws and regulations
November 5th to 11th, 2019, members of the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau leadership body led a night inspection
Ⅰ. Environmental Conditions
⑴Atmospheric Environment
In 2019, the excellent rate of Shaoguan's ambient air quality index (AQI) was 92.6%, hitting the annual assessment target of 92%. It is one of the nine cities which passed the annual assessment, with no record of moderate or severe pollution occurred throughout the year. Six assessment indicators have reached the national standard II.The average annual concentration of PM2.5 in urban areas is 29 micro grams per cubic meter, a 12.1% decrease compared with the same period of last year. The average annual concentration of PM10 is 43 micro grams per cubic meter, a 4.4% decrease compared with the same period of last year. The comprehensive index ranked 12th among the 21 prefecture-level cities in the province, up 4 places compared with last year, making the largest improvement in the province.
⑵Environmental Quality of Surface Water
Shaoguan has 2 municipal centralized drinking water sources, namely Wujiang Shiliting, Qujiang Cangcun Reservoir and 7 county-level centralized drinking water sources, Shixing Huashan Reservoir, Gaoping Reservoir, Wengyuanyuan Dongshui, Ruyuan Nanshui Reservoir, Nanxiong Waterfall Reservoir, Lechang Zhangtan Dam-upstream 780 meters, Xinfeng Baishuiyu Reservoir. The water quality of all these sources reached the control standard of drinking water. In 2019, Shaoguan City's 13 surface water assessment sections that were included in the provincial assessment all met the water quality standards. The urban area is free of black and odorous water.
⑶Soil Environmental Quality
In 2019, the city safely utilized 100% of its polluted land, and 90% of its polluted arable land; the emissions of key heavy metals in key industries decreased by 38.84% compared with 2013, with the annual heavy metal pollution reduction targets and task being completed.
⑷Emission Reduction of Major Pollutants
Preliminary calculations showed that the chemical oxygen demand has decreased by 9.9% compared to 2015, ammonia nitrogen has fallen by 10%, sulfur dioxide has fallen by 10.5%, and nitrogen oxides have fallen by 1.57%, all of which have reached the provincial annual targets for pollution control in 2019.
Ⅱ.Measures and Actions
⑴In-depth implementation of air pollution prevention and control, new rules to keep skies blue
Shaoguan city adheres to the problem-oriented approach, and continues to focus on efforts in all aspects through implementing new rules. Such as the prevention and control of dust pollution, the promotion of the reduction of brick factories and imposing restrictions on their emissions in the three districts under the jurisdiction of the municipality and factories in the suburban areas. Strictly controlled the use of fireworks and firecrackers, further expanded the banned areas for fireworks and firecrackers. Strengthened the management of polluting industrial enterprises (sites), with 511 polluting industrial enterprises (sites) having all been renovated. The open-air incineration control has been continuously strengthened. As of December 31, 138 open-air incinerations were found and controlled. Meetings have been regularly held to conduct consultations on air quality control and a new air quality warning system has been put into place.
⑵Continuously improve water quality, work tirelessly for lucid water
The city implements systematic governance over water quality control and comprehensively promotes water pollution prevention. Related government departments are required to oversee and strengthen environmental protection in water source areas while 60 problems existed at municipal and county-level drinking water sources have all been rectified and resolved. Regular monitoring of water quality has been carried out, with a key water source early-warning monitoring system being established. The construction of water source areas is under standardization, while regular evaluation of environmental conditions in water source areas are being implemented. The city is also fully promoting the control over pollution regarding agricultural and rural water, working intensively to improve the rural environment. In order to control the pollution caused by livestock and poultry breeding, banned areas for livestock and poultry breeding have been set up in each county and management standards have been put into effect.
⑶Promote the prevention and control of soil pollution
Access to construction land has been strictly controlled by the municipality with a mechanism of construction land management being established and put into effect. Based on the results of detailed investigations of the soil pollution status of key industries and enterprises, the city carried out supervision and management of the use of land, controlling the environmental risks of the construction land. The city also promoted the pollution control of heavy metal industry. As of December 31, about 81.82% of the 145 heavy metal pollution control tasks and 42 pollution control supervision tasks was completed, and the source of heavy metal pollution was effectively contained. The inspection and rectification of industrial solid waste storage sites has also been strengthened, with 15 industrial solid waste storage sites being inspected and 7 sites being rectified.
⑷Promote full coverage of supervision and law enforcement in environmental protection
In 2019, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau strengthened the environmental supervision and law enforcement, kept close eyes on the public feedback about environmental issues and carried out special inspections on enterprises that have been issued License of Discharging Pollutants in 2017 and 2018. Inspections on enterprises that manufacture dangerous chemicals and chemical parks' were carried out to find out and solve environmental safety problems. As of December 31st, a total of 13,467 law enforcement personnel have been dispatched, 4703 inspections have been conducted, and 163 investigations have been filed, 89 cases were closed, 19 enterprises were closed down, 5 cases were transferred to the public security offices, a fine of 7770,460 yuan was imposed, and 427 enterprises were rectified.
Under the strong leadership of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Shaoguan city will continue to conscientiously implement the Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, adhere to the problem-oriented mindset, and win the three major battles against air, water and soil pollution with greater determination, stricter measures, and more practical style of work, making the skies bluer, the mountains greener, waters clearer and the environment more beautiful in Shaoguan.
December 10th to 12th, 2019, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment visited Shaoguan to carry out investigation on the work of soil pollution prevention and control
December 6th, 2019, Zhou Dequan, Party Secretary of the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, led a team to investigate the work on environmental protection in Shaoguan
November 18th, 2019, Li Hongjun, Secretary of the Shaoguan Municipal Party Committee, investigated the air station in Shaoguan University
November 29th, 2019, the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau held a training session on environmental protection laws and regulations
November 5th to 11th, 2019, members of the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau leadership body led a night inspection
