2018年CRI Protecting Dianchi Lake: Kunming is on the mission

 

Through the years, pollution on the Dianchi Lake, a large reservoir in southwest China's Yunnan's capital, Kunming, has created significant environmental problems, something the local government has been taking steps to try to clean up.

In the city of Kunming, parts of which are subtropical, there is traditionally no concerns over water shortages, as the city is right next to Dianchi Lake, one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes lying close to the Yangtze River.

However since the 1990s, the water quality of the lake has been on the decline amid the rapid pace of urban development of Kunming, with pollution from industrial activities and agricultural runoff being the major problems.

The water in the lake is rated Grade Five, the worst grade in China, which makes the water unfit for even agricultural or industrial use.

Deputy mayor of Kunming, Wu Tao, says the local government has changed its priorities in recent years to restore the ecology of Dianchi Lake, given that the efforts made in the past to clean up the lake have shown little effect.

"In the 1990s and early 2000s, we used to tackle the problems case by case. Now we changed the method into a more systematic¹ way. We monitor the whole 2000 square kilometer area which Dianchi Lake water covers and control the water pollution considering the whole picture. We have initiated² six major projects, for example a 57-hundred kilometer long fence alongside the lake to keep out polluting materials, turning 675,000 hectares farmland into forestry³ or wetland," says Wu.

In addition, government is now implementing⁴ its river chief system, meaning all 35 rivers that flow into Dianchi Lake are under more intense inspections⁵.

Pollutants⁶ inside the lake are being constantly removed.

To do this, authorities have linked a man-made canal with Dianchi Lake to help bring in fresh water to help flush the lake out.

Many ecosystems⁷ have also been restored along the lake to prevent land run-off.

The Laoyuhe Wetland is a typical example of how the eco-environment can purify the water that flows into the lake.

"We took down the dam that used to separate the lake shore and the water, so that a more natural water line will take into shape. In 2009 we also introduced a special cedar⁸ tree that can live in water. In this way a wetland full of trees were built and thus the function of purifying water can be further enhanced," says Tu Shuang, the head of the Laoyuhe wetland project.

In the 1990s, nearly 90% of Kunming's wastewater was pumped untreated into Dianchi Lake.

After realizing the damage that was causing, local authorities have since commissioned a dozen wastewater treatment plants to help keep Dianchi Lake clean.

"Kunming is within the Dianchi Lake eco-region. Our work is to recycle the water and discharge it to nearby places for industrial use. Eventually the water will go into a branch of the Yangtze River. Therefor the aim of our work is to improve the quality of the water we let out. This is very important for the utilization⁹ of the recycled water and ecological¹⁰ protection when it enters into natural water reservoirs," says Wan¹¹ Taiyin, the deputy manager of Kunming number-7 wastewater factory.

Authorities in Kunming have laid out a goal to improve the water rating on Dianchi Lake to grade four by 2020. 

1 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

2 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

3 forestry   

n.森林学；林业

参考例句：

• At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
• Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。

4 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

5 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

8 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

9 utilization   

n.利用，效用

参考例句：

• Computer has found an increasingly wide utilization in all fields.电子计算机已越来越广泛地在各个领域得到应用。
• Modern forms of agricultural utilization,have completely refuted this assumption.现代农业利用形式，完全驳倒了这种想象。

10 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

11 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。