Alternative water sources make up over 45% of Hangzhou's sanitation use

(ECNS) -- East China's Hangzhou City has increased the use of treated river water and reclaimed water in sanitation operations, with the two sources accounting for 45.37% of the city’s total sanitation water use in the first half of this year. 

Hangzhou's urban management authorities said sanitation operations consumed 5.07 million metric tonnes of water during the period, including 1.6 million tonnes of river water and 700,000 tonnes of reclaimed water.

Different vehicles are matched with specific sources: water-sprinkling trucks use treated river and reclaimed water; high-pressure cleaning vehicles rely on reclaimed water with lower suspended solids to protect equipment; while fog cannons continue to use tap water.

To reduce costs and improve efficiency, Hangzhou has planned water collection routes based on nearby sources. By the end of June, the city had established 104 river water collection points and 23 reclaimed water outlets.

(By Helen Mo, intern Liu Shuangjing)