China, People's Republic of : Jiangxi Xinyu Kongmu River Watershed Flood Control and Environmental Improvement Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Rural flood protection - Water-based natural resources management

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban flood protection - Urban sanitation - Urban solid waste management

The project will demonstrate harmonization of development and flood and environmental management in the river basin that is a manageable size for project level intervention, using an integrated river basin model. One demonstration will be an introduction of innovative storm water management systems. Urban development increases storm water runoff by cutting trees and covering grounds with concrete or asphalt. Innovative storm water management systems reduce peak storm water runoff by promoting storm water infiltration into soil and increasing storm water retention. The demonstration and the river basin model can be replicated in other many similar-sized river basins, particularly where development is anticipated. Potential climate change impact assessment and sensitivity analysis of flood control structures' capacities will be conducted based on climate change modeling. The use of sensitivity analysis to examine potential climate change impacts and risks of flood control structures can be also replicated to other projects. The project will help XCG review Xinyu City Master Plan for 2008 6 2030 and revisit city's infrastructure planning, which will be another ADB's value addition.

The project is consistent with (i) a decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in Beijing in November 2013, which supports construction of eco-civilization and establishment of a system to protect ecological environment; (ii) ADB's recommendations for preparation of the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan of the People's Republic of China (PRC), 20162020, and ADB's upcoming Country Partnership Strategy for the PRC, 20162020, which supports or seems to support improvement of water security; (iii) ADB's strategy 2020 and the midterm review of the strategy that prioritize natural resource management; ,_and (iv) ADB's Water Operational Plan, 20112020 which prioritizes integrated water resources management and efficiency and productivity in the delivery of water services.

ADB has been supporting projects on flood, waterlogging, and environmental management in the PRC and other countries. Lessons learned from those projects, such as international best practices for flood and waterlogging management, and nonstructural measures for flood and environmental management will be reflected in the project design.

Xinyu City is located in Jiangxi Province, 135 kilometer (km) southwest of Nanchang Municipality, the provincial capital. The total area of Xinyu is 3,178 square kilometers (km2), and the total population is 1.16 million. Xinyu is a new industrial city with fast urbanization. Kongmu River is a 49.5 km river which flows in Xinyu including the main city center into Yuanhe River. Yuanhe River is a tributary of Ganjiang River which flows into Yangtze River through Poyang Lake. All Kongmu River watersheds of 597 km2 are in Xinyu. Kongmu River is a source of water supply for Xinyu. The river includes a wetland park which is a major recreational asset.

Various locations along Kongmu River experience floods every year due to low flood control capacity of Kongmu River and low flood retention capacity in the upper watershed._Temperatures and precipitation in Xinyu are increasing due to climate change and flood events appear to be occurring more frequently._Ongoing development in the upper watershed will increase storm water runoff and cause waterlogging in the area if storm water management is not conducted, and will increase frequency and severity of floods along Kongmu River.

Water quality in Kongmu River is class IIIII._However, wastewater and solid waste increased by population growth accompanied by the ongoing development in the upper watershed will result in water quality deterioration in the developed area and Kongmu River, if wastewater and solid waste management is not conducted. In addition, basic amenities for increasing population such as a water supply facility are inadequate in the area.

The anticipated more frequent and severer flooding and waterlogging along Kongmu River, anticipated deterioration of water quality in the Kongmu River basin, and inadequate basic amenities for increasing population will deteriorate living and working environment and will adversely impact economic activities and life quality in Xinyu.

Quality of the living environment in Xinyu City improved (Xinyu City Master Plan, 20082030)

Flood and environmental management in the upper Kongmu River watershed improved

Integrated rural and urban flood management infrastructure constructed

Solid waste and wastewater management systems improved

Flood and environmental risk management capacity enhanced