In a world where the climate crisis and water scarcity are redefining the boundaries of development, the Fuyun County Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization Project in Xinjiang Uyghur emerges as a bold response to one of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century: ensuring clean water in areas under extreme water stress. Each year, more than 2 billion people live under severe water scarcity, and arid regions such as Altay face a sustained reduction of their natural reserves. In this context, the modernization of the Fuyun plant becomes a symbol of structural transformation, capable of recovering and regenerating more than 10,000 m³ of water per day, equivalent to the annual consumption of over 12,000 inhabitants, from urban wastewater.
Located 3.3 km northwest of Fuyun County, within the Altay Autonomous Prefecture, the initiative transforms an obsolete facility into a technological benchmark for circular water management. With an investment of between 30 and 80 million yuan, the project introduces advanced biological processes, denitrification filters, aerated biofiltration, precision microflocculation, and the EBIS system, an innovation that maximizes nutrient removal and minimizes the energy footprint through low-temperature phase-change heat pumps.
Its purpose goes beyond infrastructure: it seeks to restore the balance between urban development and water sustainability, demonstrating that every treated liter can become a regenerative opportunity. Under the principles of Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA 2.0), the project generates measurable benefits in water quality and availability, directly contributing to the climate resilience of the Irtysh River basin and the Water Positive vision of transforming sanitation into a source of environmental and social value.
The modernization of the Fuyun plant arises as a technical and strategic response to the region’s contamination and water deficit. Located in Xinjiang Uyghur within the Irtysh River basin, the plant employs advanced biological processes, aerated filtration, and microflocculation to transform urban wastewater into Class A effluents suitable for irrigation and ecological restoration. Its treatment capacity reaches 10,000 m³ per day, equivalent to 3.65 million m³ of regenerated water annually, with an energy efficiency improvement of over 25% compared to the previous system.
Direct benefits are tangible and immediate: reduced emissions from water transport, recovery of natural flows, substitution of polluting inputs, and regeneration of urban ecosystems. Moreover, the new infrastructure decreases non-compliant discharges, improves environmental quality, and strengthens municipal water security. Key partners include the Fuyun local government as project promoter, water engineering firms providing EBIS technology, and environmental consultants responsible for monitoring and verification.
This model is replicable because it combines technological innovation with economic and social sustainability, adapting to low-temperature, high-scarcity contexts. Acting now is critical: the region faces a 3% annual increase in water demand and progressive depletion of groundwater resources. Companies with ESG commitments, water neutrality goals, or ambitions to enhance environmental reputation can lead similar projects, gaining regulatory compliance, reputational advantage, and competitive differentiation within the new water economy.
The technical solution proposed for Fuyun combines advanced biotreatment, aerated filtration, microflocculation, and thermal recovery into a hybrid system that integrates gray and digital technologies for maximum efficiency and control. Conventional activated sludge and MBR alternatives were evaluated, with the EBIS process and aerated biofiltration ultimately selected for their stability in low temperatures and ability to simultaneously reduce COD, nitrogen, and phosphorus without increasing energy consumption. The plant operates at 10,000 m³/day, producing Class A effluents that benefit more than 12,000 people.
During the implementation phase, the facility was developed in stages: first, the renovation of reaction tanks and installation of aerated biofilters to optimize contaminant removal; then, integration of the EBIS system and phase-change heat pumps to maintain thermal efficiency in winter; finally, digital monitoring via a SCADA system ensuring traceability of parameters such as pH, turbidity, and conductivity. This approach guarantees operational continuity and rapid response to deviations.
Operational and environmental risks include technological failures, hydrological variability, and social acceptance of reclaimed water. To mitigate them, redundant pumping systems, hydraulic contingency plans, and shared governance protocols between the operator and local authorities were implemented. Predictive maintenance models and remote alarm control ensure reliability. Climate resilience is reinforced through modular design that adapts treatment capacity to drought or overload scenarios, ensuring stability even under extreme temperatures of -30°C.
Quantifiable benefits are significant: over 3.65 million m³/year of regenerated water, COD reduction below 50 mg/L, and total phosphorus removal below 0.5 mg/L. Environmentally, the project reduces emissions from water transport and supports riparian habitat restoration, while socially it enhances public health and urban quality of life. Economically, it lowers supply and treatment costs and strengthens ESG-aligned reputational value.
Scalability is high: the model can be replicated across arid basins of northwestern China or municipalities with cold climates and limited water availability. Its competitiveness lies in thermal efficiency, low operating costs, and regulatory compliance. Public-private partnerships and the integration of local and international technologies facilitate expansion, positioning Fuyun as a benchmark in sustainable sanitation under the principles of additionality, traceability, and intentionality of the Water Positive and VWBA 2.0 frameworks.
The project follows a phased approach integrating analysis, execution, control, and continuous improvement to ensure technical traceability and alignment with VWBA 2.0 and Water Positive principles.
Phase 1 (Diagnosis and Design): Baseline hydrological, energy, and water quality data were collected from the existing system. Historical data on flows, COD, nutrients, and energy consumption established the plant’s prior performance. Key performance indicators (KPIs) were defined to assess treatment efficiency, biological stability, and water recovery. The EBIS technology was chosen for its reliable performance under low temperatures and compatibility with aerated biofilters and microflocculation.
Phase 2 (Installation and Technological Integration): This included replacing biological reactors, installing dual-layer aerated filters, and adding phase-change heat pumps to maintain winter operational temperatures. Processes were automated with IoT sensors and high-precision electromagnetic flow meters. Each unit connects to a central SCADA control system recording real-time data on pH, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature, with automatic alerts and reporting capabilities. The nominal capacity of 10,000 m³/day achieved over 95% contaminant removal efficiency and a 25% energy savings.
Phase 3 (Commissioning and Validation): Equipment was calibrated and progressive load tests were conducted to balance aeration, temperature, and hydraulic retention time. Quality parameters were validated through laboratory analyses and cross-checking with digital logs. Physical water traceability is ensured through georeferenced inlet and outlet flow meters, while digital traceability relies on an IoT platform synchronized with SCADA, storing historical records and generating automatic reports for external audits.
Phase 4 (Continuous Operation and External Verification): Governance was consolidated, assigning technical operators for daily supervision and local authorities for regulatory verification. External consultants certify performance under VWBA/WQBA protocols through annual audits. Preventive and corrective maintenance plans use predictive programming based on historical data to ensure stability and reduce critical failures.
Phase 5 (Monitoring and Continuous Improvement): A comprehensive monitoring system compares “with-project” and “without-project” scenarios. Metrics include regenerated volumes, contaminant removal, energy efficiency, and emission reductions. Data feedback enables process optimization, control software updates, and performance curve adjustments. Continuous improvement mechanisms include five-year technology upgrades and training programs for local operators, ensuring long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits.
The Fuyun County Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization Project represents a comprehensive water reuse and regeneration intervention that transforms obsolete infrastructure into an advanced, efficient, and sustainable treatment system. The main intervention is the implementation of the EBIS process, a sequential biological treatment optimized with aerated filtration, microflocculation, and thermal recovery. This system operates at 10,000 m³/day, processing domestic and urban wastewater to produce Class A effluents suitable for irrigation, ecological restoration, and non-potable industrial uses. Technically, the plant includes dual-stage biological reactors, aerated biofilters, phase-change heat pumps, sludge dewatering systems, and an online monitoring network through IoT sensors and SCADA. It complies with China’s national standard GB18918-2002 Class A, ISO 14046 water footprint guidelines, and WHO recommendations on safe water reuse.
The relevance of this solution lies in addressing the structural water deficit in the Altay region, where the Irtysh basin faces groundwater overexploitation and urban pollution. Prior to modernization, wastewater was discharged with low treatment efficiency, causing environmental degradation. After modernization, the plant closes the water cycle and reduces stress on natural sources, replacing more than 3.65 million m³/year of freshwater with high-quality regenerated effluents. This represents a significant improvement from baseline conditions, reducing COD by over 90%, ammonia nitrogen below 5 mg/L, and total phosphorus below 0.5 mg/L. Additionally, by operating with heat pumps and smart systems, CO₂ emissions and energy consumption are minimized, promoting climate adaptation and operational sustainability.
Concrete project results are measurable: 3.65 million m³/year reused, thousands of tons of CO₂ equivalent avoided from transport and pumping, improved public health through pathogen reduction, and strengthened biodiversity in riparian zones through regenerated water use in wetlands and reforestation.
Strategically and commercially, the plant advances the Water Positive roadmap by generating additional volumetric benefits verifiable under VWBA 2.0 and WQBA frameworks. It adds tangible value to operators’ ESG commitments by ensuring regulatory compliance, social license to operate, environmental reputation, and competitive differentiation. Integration with Agenda 2030, Science-Based Targets for Water, and ESRS E3 standards enhances its impact across water and energy value chains.
Replicability of this model is high: it can be applied in cold-climate municipalities, arid regions, or industrial zones facing water scarcity. Technical scalability is ensured by the EBIS system’s modularity, low energy use, and adaptability to different flow rates. Socially, replication is viable due to community engagement, transparent monitoring, and local job creation. Public-private partnerships with operators, local governments, and technology companies enable expansion and guarantee sustainable operational financing.
The expected final impact is substantial: the project contributes to the Irtysh basin’s water balance by regenerating volumes equivalent to the annual consumption of over 12,000 people, reducing aquifer pressure and mitigating drought effects. It creates jobs, improves public health, and strengthens public confidence in water management. For investors and stakeholders, it demonstrates how engineering, sustainability, and innovation converge in a regenerative economy model capable of transforming a region’s water future and laying the foundations for a new generation of Water Positive infrastructure.
