Shanghai's Water Pollution: A Toxic Mix Of Problems

Shanghai's water pollution is a pressing issue, with the city's rapid industrialization and urbanization over the last few decades leading to heavily polluted waterways. In 2013, the incident of dead pig carcasses floating in the Huangpu River brought the issue to light, raising concerns about water quality. The problem is exacerbated by China's widespread issue of factories discharging untreated chemical waste into water sources and local governments failing to regulate polluting industries. Shanghai's water sources are of better quality than inland areas, but untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff contribute to pollution. The city has implemented initiatives to improve water quality, including the Shanghai Sewage Project and the opening of the Qingcaosha Reservoir, but more funding is needed to address the small towns' water infrastructure.

Industrial and chemical waste

Shanghai's water pollution crisis is a significant concern, with the quality of its water sources deteriorating due to various factors, including industrial and chemical waste.

The rapid industrialization and urbanization of Shanghai over the last few decades have heavily polluted its waterways. As a result, only a small percentage of the water in the city is safe for drinking or aquaculture. In 2015, it was reported that 85% of the water in Shanghai's major rivers was undrinkable, and 56.4% was unfit for any purpose. This is due in part to the discharge of industrial and chemical waste into these water bodies.

Local governments have been criticized for failing to regulate polluting industries effectively. For example, in 2011, it was reported that Luliang Chemical Industry in Yunnan province had disposed of 5,000 tonnes of chemical waste near a river used as a drinking water source. Despite legal consequences for individuals involved, the local government did not take sufficient action to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

Shanghai's water pollution is also attributed to the discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers and the sea. In 2015, China discharged 3.78 billion cubic meters of untreated wastewater, with 1.98 million cubic meters in Beijing alone. This wastewater may contain hazardous materials from industrial processes, contributing to the contamination of water sources.

To address the water pollution crisis, Shanghai has implemented various measures. The Shanghai Municipal Government launched the $153 million Shanghai Sewage Project in 1987 to improve water and wastewater infrastructure. The project included the construction of sewerage systems and treatment facilities, and it established the Shanghai Sewerage Company, one of the first self-financed sewerage companies in China. Additionally, the city has worked on initiatives to provide safer drinking water, reduce pollution, and improve wastewater and solid waste management.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. In 2017, it was found that only 22% of water monitoring stations in Shanghai had water suitable for drinking. The high population and rapid urban growth in Shanghai continue to strain water resources, and the city struggles to meet the growing demand for freshwater.

Sewage and wastewater

Shanghai's rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in a significant sewage and wastewater problem. In 2015, 85% of the water in the city's major rivers was undrinkable, and 56.4% was unfit for any purpose, according to official standards. The city's waterways, including the famous Suzhou Creek, have suffered from severe pollution due to urban population growth, industrialization, and the discharge of raw sewage and other wastewater. This has led to algal blooms, foul odors, and a direct threat to the health of the residents in the area.

Suzhou Creek, a 125-km waterway that cuts through Shanghai, has a long history as a vital shipping and trading route in China since the 1600s. However, starting in the 1920s, the creek began to experience severe pollution due to the discharge of raw sewage and other wastewater. This pollution has directly damaged plant and aquatic species and caused algal blooms, with visual pollution and foul odors also being reported. The poor water quality of Suzhou Creek also poses a health risk to the 3 million residents in the area, as it is a source of irrigation and industrial water supply.

The Shanghai Municipal Government established the Suzhou Creek Rehabilitation Leader Group in the mid-1990s to address the pollution issue. The group has been working with local construction companies to implement a comprehensive water treatment solution, focusing on reducing sewage discharge, installing water locks, and introducing oxygen into the eutrophic water. The first phase of the plan, completed in 2003, prioritized these measures and successfully diverted water flow from the highly polluted Zhengru Port into a treatment canal.

In addition to local government efforts, Shanghai has received international support to tackle its sewage and wastewater issues. The World Bank has financed critical projects such as the Nanhui Raw Water Conveyor, which provides high-quality raw water to 15 districts, benefiting about 13 million people. The Bank has also helped establish the first water authority in the country, leading to improved utilities operations and water resource management strategies. Additionally, Canadian cleantech businesses have demonstrated innovative solutions, such as onsite wastewater treatment systems, which eliminate the need for transporting contaminated water to remote facilities.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Shanghai's prosperity and rapid growth have resulted in a growing demand for clean water, and the city's water infrastructure struggles to keep up. The treatment and disposal of wastewater are ongoing concerns, with more than 2000 million cubic meters of wastewater collected and treated annually, and a wastewater treatment connection rate of over 90%. The city's tap water quality is also questionable, with old and rusted pipes potentially allowing the leaching of metals and sediment into the water during transport.

Poor water infrastructure

Shanghai's rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have exerted pressure on its water infrastructure. The city's population has grown to roughly 24 million people, and its waterways have become heavily polluted. The tap water system in Shanghai has improved in recent years, but the city still faces a severe problem with wastewater.

In 2016, the local government announced plans to clean up all its Grade 6 severely contaminated rivers by the end of 2017 and all Grade 5 heavily polluted rivers by 2020. Shanghai's first water census, carried out between 2010 and 2012, showed that only 3% of the water in the city's rivers and lakes was of sufficient quality to be used as a water resource for residents. The poor quality of the rest of Shanghai's water resources is mainly due to discharges by local factories, as well as agricultural hazardous pesticides and manure.

The Shanghai Municipal Government has taken steps to address the city's water pollution issues. In 1987, the $153 million Shanghai Sewage Project was launched to help build water and wastewater infrastructure in the city. The project included the construction of a combined sewerage system, long-distance transmission, and centralised treatment, as well as three sewerage collection catchments. The project also led to the establishment of one of the first self-financed sewerage companies in China, the Shanghai Sewerage Company, in 1992. This company set up a market-oriented mechanism for corporatised operation in the sewerage sector and paved the way for collecting sewerage tariffs from residents and enterprises for the first time in China.

Despite these efforts, Shanghai continues to struggle with water pollution. In 2015, official standards indicated that 85% of the water in the city's major rivers was undrinkable, and 56.4% was unfit for any purpose. The city's geography, including its location downstream of other cities along the Yangtze River, also presents challenges for water infrastructure and pollution control.

To address these issues, Shanghai has implemented several engineering innovations, such as the Laogang Landfill and the QingCaoSha Raw Water Program (QCSRWP). The QCSRWP supplies high-quality raw water from the QingCaoSha Reservoir to ten core districts and five suburban districts, benefiting about 13 million people. Additionally, the Shanghai Municipal Water Authority has taken measures such as releasing large numbers of chub and carp into the reservoir to control algae outbreaks caused by high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water.

Government inaction

Shanghai's water pollution is a complex issue that has been exacerbated by a range of factors, including rapid industrialization, population growth, and inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure. However, government inaction has played a significant role in the deterioration of the city's water quality.

One of the main reasons for government inaction is the lack of political will

High demand for freshwater

Shanghai's rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in a high demand for freshwater. The city's population has grown to roughly 24 million people, and its waterways have become heavily polluted. Only 3% of the water in the city is clean enough for drinking or aquaculture. This has created a pressing need for freshwater sources to meet the demands of the growing population.

To address this issue, the city opened the Qingcaosha Reservoir on Changxing Island in 2010. The reservoir, with a capacity of 430 million cubic meters, currently supplies about 70% of Shanghai's tap water. The water from Qingcaosha is significantly cleaner than that of the Yangtze or Huangpu rivers, which are heavily polluted by industrial and agricultural waste. However, even the Qingcaosha reservoir faces challenges with regular outbreaks of algae caused by high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the Yangtze.

The Shanghai government has recognized the seriousness of the water pollution issue and has taken steps to address it. They have implemented various water initiatives, including the Shanghai Adaptable Program Loan (APL), which focuses on long-term infrastructure investments in water supply, wastewater management, and solid waste systems. The government has also announced plans to clean up severely and heavily polluted rivers by specific deadlines.

The high demand for freshwater in Shanghai has also led to the exploration of alternative sources. The city has shifted its raw water source from the highly polluted Huangpu River to the relatively cleaner Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary. Additionally, the government is constructing a new emergency backup reservoir on the Taipu River to provide water when the Huangpu's pollution levels become too high.

Despite these efforts, the strain on Shanghai's water resources persists due to the city's rapid growth. The water infrastructure in smaller towns surrounding Shanghai is struggling to keep up with the increasing demand. There is a recognized need for continued investment in green infrastructure, and the World Bank has played a crucial role in supporting Shanghai's water management initiatives over the past three decades.

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