On October 17, the Henan Provincial Government held a press conference where it was announced that the water quality of the Yellow River in its Henan section has maintained a Class II rating for four consecutive years. This marks a significant improvement in the water environmental quality of the Yellow River basin in the province.
The Yellow River flows through 711 kilometers of Henan, covering a basin area of 36,200 square kilometers, which is about 21.7% of the province’s total area. Strengthening the protection of the river basin’s water environment is crucial for supporting high-quality development in Henan.
During the press conference, Li Zhe, the head of the Henan Provincial Ecological Environment Department, emphasized that the province has actively implemented the national strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin. He noted that the province prioritizes ecological conservation and green development, coordinating efforts on both upstream and downstream sections, as well as tributaries, to enhance comprehensive management, systematic governance, and source control. “Since 2020, the main channel of the Yellow River has consistently maintained a Class II water quality, and all tributaries have eliminated Class V pollution,” Li reported. From 2021 to 2023, the proportions of Class I to III water quality were 88.2%, 88.6%, and 94.1% respectively, showing a continuous improvement in water quality.
Liu Zhihui, the deputy director of the Henan Provincial Ecological Environment Department, shared details on efforts made since 2019 to tackle water ecological environmental issues in the Yellow River basin. The province secured 941 million yuan in central funding for water pollution prevention and allocated an additional 312 million yuan from provincial resources. A total of 72 projects have been implemented, including construction of artificial wetlands for wastewater treatment plant effluent, upgrades to urban and industrial park wastewater treatment facilities, and ecological restoration of rivers. Additionally, efforts have been made to clean up 2,134 river discharge points and address 46 black and odorous water bodies in cities and counties under provincial jurisdiction.
Looking ahead, Henan plans to aggressively implement the “Clean Water into the Yellow River” project, with paperwork underway to establish an execution plan to address critical water ecological issues at their source. The focus will be on enhancing wastewater treatment facilities in ten chemical parks and improving drainage systems for individual enterprises. The province will also continue to deepen the tailored management strategies for each river and accelerate the development of a beautiful and prosperous Yellow River.
