Sewage treatment system in use on Xisha Islands

A sewage treatment system has been put into use after years of construction on the Yongxing Island, the largest of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea.

An aerial photo shows the Yongxiang Island, the largest of the Xisha Island in the South China Sea. [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

The treatment can purify 1,800 tons of sewage every day, almost four times of the island's previous treatment capacity before the new system was launched in 2013.

With over 9,000 meters of sewage pipes, all waste on the island can be sent to the sewage treatment plant to undergo six steps of purification.

Liao Yan, director of the environment protection center of the Yongxing Island, said what makes the plant different is the use of biological technology.

"We have added biological deodorization equipment and fiber filter wheels to remove foul smells and suspended substances. The quality of reclaimed water obtained this way is far higher than the national urban sewage treatment standards."

To protect the groundwater resources, a seawater desalting plant is in the final stage of construction and under test.

After going into operation in late August, it will be able to treat 1,000-ton seawater.