Three Gorges Project New Channel "Testing Ground": Earthwork Wastewater Circulation Efficiency Improvement

China News Service, Yichang, October 12, Title: "Testing Ground" for the New Channel of the Three Gorges Project: Earthwork Wastewater Circulation Efficiency Improvement

Author Guo Xiaoying Dong Xiaobin Cheng Lin

On October 12, in the huge foundation pit in the preliminary excavation area of the new channel of the Three Gorges Hub, electric heavy trucks were busy coming and going; fog cannons continued to spray water mist to suppress dust; slope protection grids were arranged neatly, and green plants broke through the ground.

The project is located at the end of the upstream approach channel of the Three Gorges Hub New Channel and is approximately 935 meters long. Gong Zhaoguang, director of the Three Gorges Hub New Channel Project Management Department, told reporters that as the "test site" for the construction of the Three Gorges Hub new channel, the advance excavation area has successfully completed all blasting and excavation tasks, and is currently carrying out slag removal and support work. Environmental protection control has always been throughout the entire construction process, accumulating valuable experience for the green construction of subsequent projects.

The recycling of earth and stone resources is a highlight of the green construction of the project. According to Gong Zhaoguang, nearly 8 million cubic meters of earth and stone have been excavated for the preliminary excavation area project. These stones will be classified first, and those suitable for use will be converted into engineering construction resources.

"Nearly 200,000 cubic meters of topsoil was stripped off in the first excavation area, and we stored it in the storage yard. After the construction is completed, these precious mellow soils will be reused in the site and slag dump for greening, realizing the recycling of soil resources." Gong Zhaoguang said.

Water resources also achieve closed-loop recycling. Gong Zhaoguang said that the wastewater generated from sand and gravel processing and vehicle washing at the construction site was treated and used to sprinkle water to reduce dust and irrigate vegetation, "preventing a drop of sewage from flowing into the Yangtze River."

In terms of pollution control, the project has established a full-chain dust prevention and control system, with 10 car wash pools and flushing platforms on site, and about 20 sprinklers equipped to continuously reduce dust; the sand and gravel workshop is fully closed, equipped with dust removal and spraying devices, and wet construction, bare soil coverage, and airtight transportation are implemented throughout the area to precisely control construction pollution.

In terms of energy conservation and emission reduction, the project promotes green transportation and achieves low noise and zero emissions. Zhu Sidai, deputy manager of the New Channel Project Department of the Fourth Hydropower Bureau, said that 40 pure electric heavy-duty trucks were put into use in the excavation area, and the operating noise was controlled within 60 decibels. The energy consumption was reduced by more than 40% compared with fuel-fired heavy trucks. The cumulative carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by about 2,960 tons.

Gong Zhaoguang said that relying on a series of green innovative practices, the preliminary excavation area is used for on-site sampling of major water conservancy projects, and feasible paths for symbiosis and win-win between project construction and Yangtze River ecological protection are explored.

The Three Gorges Water Transport New Channel Project is the first major national landmark project started during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. It consists of two parts: the Three Gorges Hub New Channel and the Gezhouba Shipping Capacity Expansion. Among them, the new channel of the Three Gorges Hub is located on the north side of the existing Three Gorges ship lock. It is planned to build a new two-line continuous five-level ship lock with a length of about 6,680 meters.