Jilin- Seven-year river and lake chief system brings sustainable clean water

As autumn settles in, we find ourselves in Xiaohan Congding Mountain, the origin of the Dongliao River, where lush forests and wild fruits abound. Nestled in this picturesque environment is Anbei Village in the town of Liaohe Source, Dongliao County, Jilin Province.

In recent years, Dongliao County has fully embraced the Happy Rivers and Lakes initiative for the Dongliao River headwaters, which has significantly transformed Anbei Village into a “3A” level beautiful countryside, achieving a remarkable transformation.

Stepping into the homestay known as “Yuan Head Inn,” one is greeted by an abundance of greenery. The manager, Wang Xiaowen, shares, “This was just an ordinary small mountain village before, but now it has become a bustling hub, especially during holidays when we often face fully booked rooms. Thanks to the improvements in the Dongliao River’s environment, we’re seeing many more visitors.”

Jilin Province, often referred to as the “Water Tower” of Northeast China, launched a comprehensive river and lake management initiative in 2017. This initiative has established a five-level river management system that includes provincial, city, county, township, and village levels, with 12,000 river caretakers dedicated to safeguarding every river and lake.

The Furjiang River, serving as the provincial boundary between Jilin and Liaoning, presents unique challenges in terms of management. The Tumen County River Management Office has effectively utilized a collaborative mechanism within their river governance efforts. In 2020, they initiated a “River Chief + Procuratorate Chief” collaboration model, which has greatly enhanced protections for the Furjiang River. In 2021, they facilitated the establishment of a cross-regional cooperative mechanism for public interest litigation concerning the Furjiang basin with relevant authorities in Liaoning Province.

In 2022, both Jilin and Liaoning’s river management offices and procuratorates conducted joint inspections along the Furjiang basin. By 2023, they successfully established a framework agreement for coordinated prevention and control in response to sudden water pollution events, reinforcing their collaborative efforts.

In Jilin City, the local government has invited 1,000 members from both the city and county-level political consultative conferences to serve as invited supervisors under the river chief system. These officials have been actively involved in on-the-ground inspections to identify and address issues. According to He Zhonghai, Director of the River and Lake Management Office of Jilin City Water Conservancy Bureau, “Since launching the joint enforcement mechanism, inspection teams have discovered and rectified over 1,600 issues, significantly enhancing river and lake governance capabilities.”

Over in the Changchun Automotive Economic and Technological Development Zone, a new model for river management has emerged. In 2023, the River Management Office there pioneered a “Green Power” corporate alliance aimed at protecting rivers and lakes, where 17 companies, including FAW Group, voluntarily designated company representatives as “Corporate River Heads.” Throughout the year, these corporate river heads conducted over 250 inspections and resolved more than 80 river management issues.

As we admire the willows swaying along the banks of the Xianren River in Liaoyuan City this October, it’s hard to imagine that this river was once infamous for its pollution. Aging sewage systems and insufficient sewage interception meant considerable wastewater flowed directly into the river, compounded by issues of illegal construction and indiscriminate waste disposal.

However, the city has since implemented a comprehensive treatment plan to tackle the pollution, systematically advancing the rehabilitation of the Xianren River. By the end of 2020, all black and odorous water was eliminated, and since 2021, the water quality in the Dongliao River at its sampling points has consistently met or exceeded Class IV standards.

These improvements reflect a commitment to clean water and sustainable management of river and lake systems. The transformation of these waterways not only enhances the natural beauty of the region but also nurtures economic growth and cultural prosperity.