Reutilization of Wastewater and Some Countermeasures for the Great Development of Northwest China

It is in shortage of water resources in northwest China. The per capita volume and per unit land area volume of water resoures are much lower than the averages in China and in the world. There is a big differenece in temporal and spatial distribution of water resources in northwest China. A serious shortage of water resources has impeded the regional social-economic development, improvement of the ecological environment and raise of the people's living standards. Therefore, reutilization of wastewater is imperative under the circumstances. Based on the actual investigation, this paper analyzes the existing problems, ecological environment results, social effect and economic returns of reutilization of wastewater in the arid areas. Some countermeasures are put forward for reutilization of wastewater in northwest China, which are as follows:①To carry out the strategic research for the problems demanding prompt solution in reutilization of wastewater, work out a plan of reutilization of wastewater, and achieve a maximum of the ecological results, social effect and econmic returns in reutilization of wastewater; ②To re-establish the values of fresh water resources in the arid areas so as to promote the reutilization of urban wastewater by water price lever; ③To speed up the construction of the urban infrastructures, complete the drainage net systems, enhance the environment management, and create the farourable conditions for reutilization of wastewater; and④ To set up and amplify the lows and the standarded system of reutilization of wastewater so as to coordinate the social effect, economic returns and ecological environment results and achieve a sustainable development.