China, People's Republic of: Shanxi Urban-Rural Water Source Protection and Environmental Demonstration Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Forestry - Rural flood protection - Rural water supply services

Transport / Urban roads and traffic management

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban flood protection - Urban sewerage

The impact of the project will be improved quality of life and environmental sustainability in Zuoquan County. The outcome of the project will be improved and integrated river basin management in Zuoquan County. The project will include four outputs: (i) water source protection of the Qingzhang headwaters, (ii) Qingzhang River rehabilitation and integrated low-impact facilities, (iii) inclusive water supply and wastewater collection services, and (iv) strengthened institutional capacity.

Output 1 will support (i) re-vegetation around the Shixia Reservoir and planting of forest belt along two headwaters for about 12,800 hectares (ha); (ii) installation of the Shixia Reservoir spillway gates; (iii) construction of a flood-discharging and washout tunnel; and (iv) construction of five hydrological and water quality monitoring stations with telecommunication system in the Shixia Reservoir catchment.

Output 2 will support (i) dredging of selected sections of the Qingzhang River which are heavily silted (about 11.6 kilometers [km]); (ii) rehabilitation of the Qingzhang River, and construction of embankment (about 8.9 km); (iii) construction of wetland of about 35.35 ha and associated river amenity facilities; and (iv) low-impact design (sponge city concept) for Binhe road expansion and stormwater drain installation.

Output 3 will support (i) construction of 45.3-km raw water transmission pipelines and expansion of a pumping station; (ii) construction of 48.3-km water distribution pipelines and expansion of four pumping stations; (iii) replacement of 36.5-km existing water supply pipelines and construction of two rural domestic water treatment stations; (iv) expansion of the Zuoquan County wastewater treatment plant from 10,000 m3 per day to 15,000 m3 per day, with improvement of treatment technologies and renovation of some equipment; (v) construction of 4.97-km trunk sewers; (vi) replacement of 1.29-km existing main sewer pipelines; and reconstruction of four overflow manholes.

Output 4 will support institutional and capacity development for (i) project management; (ii) improvement of existing flood warning system; (iii) integrated urban rural water supply, and (iv) action plan for sponge city design for new city district development.

The proposed project will be implemented in Zuoquan County, Jinzhong Municipality of Shanxi Province. The project will address key water resources management and related issues in Zuoquan County in an integrated manner, including water quality and quantity, flood mitigation, soil erosion prevention, land use planning, and related capacity building activities. The proposed project is expected to demonstrate the ability and merits of working at county level to advance the government's goal of ecological civilization and poverty reduction. Special features and value addition. The project is expected to demonstrate the following innovations/value additions:

(i) Integrated river basin management by implementing structural and nonstructural measures in pollution prevention, flood management, ecological conservation and rehabilitation, water demand management, and institutional reform support from upstream to downstream of Qingzhang River. This approach will have good demonstration effect to other regions as the PRC increasingly need to improve management of its many small river basins facing similar issues as Zuoquan County;

(ii) Integrated urban-rural land use planning and protection. The project area has been analyzed and classified into different zones according to their land use types. From reservoir to downstream township, the Qingzhang River passes through four types of predominant land use areas within the project boundary. Protection measures have been identified according to the characteristics of each land use zone, including vegetation for the areas upstream of the Shixia reservoir to reduce soil erosion; safety inspection of the reservoir and replacement of aged facilities; improvement of flood protection standard of the Qingzhang river and enhancement of ecological values along the river banks; provision of low impact facilities such as wetland park and enhanced road design; improvement of urban stormwater drainage system, and sewage collection and treatment; and provision of reliable water supply to rural and urban area including commercial and industry;

(iii) Sponge city is an important concept from an integrated urban land and water management perspective. The important sponge city concept is applied to implement the Binhe Road as a pilot scheme which incorporates permeable pavement, low-impact-development (LID) tree pits and bio-retention swales. The LID facilities not only retard surface runoff, but also reduce non-point source pollution from urban runoff. The scale will be further extended to prepare an action plan to identify LID technologies and practices for Zuoquan's new district development; and

(iv) Inclusive Zuoquan County's urbanization and poverty reduction. Zuoquan is a national designated poverty county which lags behind the average in terms of social economic development due partially to uncoordinated development and inadequate infrastructure. People are exposed to natural disaster of floods and droughts, as well as polluted environment. The project will create enabling environment for future city's development and poverty reduction by providing improved infrastructure, flood risk reduction measures, water security and effective wastewater collection and treatment system.

Shixia Reservoir operation and its watershed vegetation improved

Qingzhang River and Binhe Road rehabilitated

Inclusive water supply and wastewater collection services achieved

Institutional capacity strengthened