In a global scenario marked by the climate crisis, ecosystem degradation, and growing pressure on water resources, humanity faces a tipping point. More than three billion people today live under conditions of water stress, and arid regions such as southern Xinjiang symbolize the challenge of sustaining industrial development without compromising the water base of the territory. In this context, the Sewage Treatment Plant Construction Project of the Bachu County Industrial Park emerges as a bold and transformative response. This project not only treats water: it redefines the relationship between production and sustainability, turning every cubic meter of effluent into a recovered resource.
Strategically located in the Bachu County Industrial Park, Kashgar Prefecture, the project , with an investment of approximately 260 million yuan, has a treatment capacity of 20,000 m³ per day and complies with the highest environmental standards of national regulations (GB18918-2002, Class A). Its strategic objective is twofold: to protect water quality in one of the most arid regions of China and to ensure the water resilience of an expanding industrial hub. The intervention includes the main treatment plant, sludge dewatering systems, regulation ponds, operating offices, and a comprehensive network of pipelines that close the loop between consumption, treatment, and reuse.
This model, driven by the Bachu County Housing and Urban-Rural Development Office and accompanied by local, technological, and environmental actors, seeks to transform a structural problem , water pollution and scarcity, into an opportunity to build a regenerative water economy. In line with the principles of Water Positive and the VWBA 2.0 framework, the project meets the principles of additionality, traceability, and intentionality: each liter treated and reused represents a measurable water benefit that returns more to the system than it extracts. With a projected recovery of three million cubic meters of water per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 40,000 inhabitants, this plant demonstrates that water infrastructure can be not only efficient, but also restorative and a generator of environmental, economic, and social value.
Located in the heart of Kashgar Prefecture, the Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Bachu Industrial Park represents a state-of-the-art technological solution to one of the region’s most critical problems: water pollution and the inefficient use of the resource in an arid environment. Through the combined A2/O + MBR technology, the system makes it possible to treat and regenerate up to 20,000 m³ of water per day, transforming industrial and domestic effluents into high-quality water intended for irrigation, industrial cooling, and maintenance of green areas. This capacity is equivalent to the daily consumption of a population of more than 60,000 people, which illustrates the tangible and measurable impact of its operation.
The project generates immediate and quantifiable benefits: reduction of 620 tons of COD, 58 tons of ammoniacal nitrogen, and 9 tons of phosphorus per year, contributing to the regeneration of more than 3 million m³ of water reused annually. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2,600 tons of CO₂, it also consolidates itself as a vector for climate mitigation. This achievement is made possible thanks to coordination between the Bachu County Housing and Urban-Rural Development Office, the Industrial Park Management Committee, and the technical operation of Xinjiang New Water Environment Group, with the support of technology providers and regional environmental agencies.
The technical and strategic opportunity lies in turning liquid waste management into a continuous source of useful water and indirect energy, strengthening water security in an area with structural stress. In the short term, the project improves the efficiency of the sanitation system and raises the industrial competitiveness of the park. In the medium term, it guarantees water self-sufficiency through circular reuse; and in the long term, it establishes a replicable model for all of southern Xinjiang, capable of integrating into Water Positive strategies and achieving verifiable volumetric benefits (VWB).
Its replicability is based on an operational scheme of low energy consumption, digital control through a virtual twin, and predictive maintenance, which reduces costs and facilitates its adaptation in other basins with similar conditions. Companies with ambitious ESG objectives , particularly in industrial, agri-food, or energy sectors, will find in this model a direct pathway to regulatory compliance, reputational differentiation, and visible leadership in the transition toward a regenerative water economy. Acting now is not only a strategic decision: it is an environmental responsibility in a region where every recovered liter defines the future of its resilience.
The proposed technical solution is based on a hybrid A2/O + MBR membrane bioreactor process, an advanced technology that combines biological processes and physical filtration to achieve the removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter with an efficiency greater than 95%. This system operates in three integrated stages: anaerobic treatment, nitrification-denitrification, and membrane ultrafiltration, guaranteeing Class A effluent quality suitable for industrial reuse.
Alternatives such as activated sludge filtration and nanofiltration were evaluated, but this scheme was chosen for its greater operational stability, smaller footprint, and ability to operate under the extreme climatic conditions of the Xinjiang region. The plant has a nominal capacity of 20,000 m³/day, directly benefiting more than 60,000 inhabitants and the park’s industries, and constitutes gray-digital infrastructure with remote monitoring and automated control.
The implementation process is structured in four phases: design and optimization of the hydraulic scheme, installation of equipment and piping, sensor calibration, and operational commissioning. Each phase integrates material quality verification, safety protocols, and environmental certifications. The sludge generated is stabilized and dewatered with belt filter presses, then sent to the county’s solid waste treatment centers for safe management. A fraction of the treated water is reincorporated into the reuse network for urban irrigation, street cleaning, and industrial cooling, thus closing the water cycle.
The project addresses the problem of pollution and pressure on the basin through a highly efficient, low-energy-consumption solution, perfectly adapted to the water scarcity of southern Xinjiang. It was selected based on criteria of effectiveness, replicability, cost-benefit, and regulatory compliance, aligning with the principles of Water Positive and VWBA: additionality (new restored volumes), traceability (digital monitoring of flows), and intentionality (planned net water benefit). The expected benefits include the annual recovery of more than 3 million m³ of water, reduction of 620 tons of COD, 58 tons of nitrogen, and 9 tons of phosphorus, as well as a decrease of 2,600 tons of CO₂. It also provides social benefits by improving public health, generating local technical employment, and ensuring a safer and more resilient urban environment.
In terms of risks and mitigations, potential technological failures, hydrological variations, and challenges of social acceptance are identified. To address them, redundant aeration systems, backup power plants, and a predictive maintenance program based on data analysis are incorporated. Shared governance among local authorities, operators, and the industrial community ensures a rapid response to any contingency. In addition, the plant has contingency plans for extreme events, quality control protocols to prevent secondary contamination, and early warning mechanisms in case of saline intrusion or supply interruptions. Its climate resilience is reinforced with a modular design adaptable to flow fluctuations and extreme temperatures, ensuring continuous operation throughout its useful life.
Finally, its scalability is proven: the technology can be replicated in other arid regions or industrial parks in China and Central Asia, where water and industrial waste management are priorities. Its public-private governance model, the digital support of the virtual twin, and energy efficiency position it as a competitive alternative to conventional solutions, with operating costs 20% lower and complete traceability of the water cycle. This combination of technological innovation, economic return, and environmental credibility makes the project a benchmark in smart water infrastructure for the new water economy.
The project’s implementation is planned under a phased and adaptive intervention scheme, structured in five main phases: diagnosis, design, installation, commissioning, and continuous operation. In the first stage, carried out between March and July 2024, the technical and hydrological diagnosis was conducted to establish the baseline of flows, water quality, and nutrient balance. During this phase, topographical studies, hydraulic modeling, and laboratory analyses were applied to determine the physicochemical composition of the effluents. The second phase, design and engineering (August 2024 to February 2025), incorporated simulations of biological processes using specialized software, optimizing the A2/O + MBR configuration according to local climatic conditions and contaminant load needs.
The installation phase (March 2025 to April 2026) includes the assembly of biological reactors, ultrafiltration units, sludge dewatering systems, and the network of pipelines connecting to the regenerated water distribution system. Electromagnetic flowmeters, multiparameter probes for pH, conductivity, BOD, nitrates, and temperature were installed, along with an IoT system integrated into the central SCADA. The nominal operating capacity is 20,000 m³/day, with an average performance above 95% contaminant removal and an energy efficiency index 20% better than the national standard.
Commissioning and calibration, scheduled between May and June 2026, will focus on the verification of flows, sensor calibration, and process validation through progressive load tests. In this phase, quality parameters will be certified in accordance with the GB18918-2002 Class A standard. Subsequently, the continuous operation stage will be managed by Xinjiang New Water Environment Group, under the supervision of the Bachu Industrial Park Management Committee and the Kashgar Regional Ecology and Environment Office. This technical operator will implement a digital twin system that will enable real-time control of each process, complete traceability of the water cycle, and predictive maintenance management.
The pre-project baseline showed discharges with 120 mg/L COD, 25 mg/L ammoniacal nitrogen, and 3 mg/L phosphorus. After implementation, levels below 10 mg/L COD, 1 mg/L NH₃-N, and 0.2 mg/L P are projected, measured through laboratory analyses and continuous online monitoring. Data are collected every hour and stored in a digital database with audited monthly reports. Physical traceability is ensured with flow identification and georeferencing of the path of regenerated water; while digital traceability is guaranteed through an IoT platform connected to the SCADA system and validated by third parties with annual audit reports.
The governance scheme establishes a clear distribution of responsibilities: the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Office oversees water policy; the Industrial Park Management Committee coordinates the allocation of regenerated resources; the technical operator is in charge of operation and maintenance; and an independent external verifier certifies the volumetric water benefits (VWB). A quarterly preventive maintenance plan and an annual corrective plan are implemented, with membrane replacement, sensor calibration, and reactor cleaning.
For continuous monitoring, the VWBA/WQBA system monitors key parameters such as m³ regenerated, m³ saved, pollutants removed, and emissions avoided, comparing the with-project scenario against the without-project scenario. The information generated feeds a continuous improvement process that includes data feedback, aeration optimization, technological upgrades, and review of operational protocols. With this methodology, the project ensures the permanence of its water and environmental benefits throughout its useful life, maintaining levels of efficiency and resilience that position it as a reference model for future treatment plants in arid regions.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant Project of the Bachu Industrial Park represents a comprehensive effluent reuse intervention that incorporates biological, digital, and advanced environmental control technologies. Its main technical axis is based on the A2/O + MBR system, which combines anaerobic and aerobic processes with ultrafiltration membranes to remove organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus with efficiency greater than 95%. The infrastructure includes biological reactors, filtration units, sludge dewatering systems, and a distribution network for regenerated water. The nominal treatment capacity is 20,000 m³/day, and its performance reaches 98% compliance in effluent quality, adjusted to the GB18918-2002 Class A standard and the ISO 14046 water footprint guidelines. The plant operates under international environmental management standards (ISO 14001) and industrial safety standards (ISO 45001), ensuring traceability and compliance with Chinese national regulations and the equivalent European frameworks of Directive 91/271/EEC.
This solution addresses the critical issue of pollution and water scarcity affecting the Yarkand basin, reducing discharges and replacing the use of fresh water with regenerated volumes. Compared to the baseline situation , characterized by discharges with high organic load and limited reuse capacity, , the plant introduces a model of circular water economy that transforms an environmental liability into a strategic asset. Its suitability for the Xinjiang context lies in its climate resilience, its ability to operate in arid environments, and its integration with a digital monitoring system that allows processes to be adjusted in real time to maximize efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
The expected results are tangible and verifiable: more than 3 million m³ of water reused annually, a 20% reduction in potable water use in the industrial park, and the removal of 620 tons of COD, 58 of ammoniacal nitrogen, and 9 of phosphorus per year. In environmental terms, the project avoids the emission of 2,600 tons of CO₂ annually and contributes to habitat regeneration through ecological recharge of wetlands and the irrigation of local vegetation. From a social perspective, it improves public health conditions, ensures water security for surrounding communities, and promotes skilled technical employment during operation.
At the strategic and commercial level, the plant aligns with the region’s Water Positive roadmap and the principles of VWBA 2.0, providing verifiable water additionality, digital traceability, and environmental intentionality. It also strengthens ESG commitments by offering a replicable solution that increases corporate reputation, meets sustainability regulations, and generates value in the supply chain. Its integration into international frameworks such as Science Based Targets for Water (SBTi) and Net Positive Water Impact (NPWI) reinforces the project’s credibility and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The model is highly replicable in other arid and industrial regions, where water scarcity and pollution limit economic growth. Its scalability is supported by a modular design, low energy consumption, and the ability to adapt the technological configuration to different effluent qualities. The Bachu experience can be extended to industrial parks in Central Asia, the Middle East, or North Africa through public-private partnerships with water operators, environmental authorities, and technology companies.
The final expected impact goes beyond the operational sphere: it contributes to the water balance of the Yarkand basin by reducing pressure on aquifers, increasing the availability of regenerated water, and improving the quality of associated ecosystems. Socially, it drives job creation and increases the resilience of local communities to climate change. For investors, customers, and citizens, this project symbolizes the transition to a regenerative water economy, where every liter treated represents an opportunity for sustainable growth and a tangible demonstration of environmental leadership.
