Ningbo 2018 Environmental Quality Evaluation Report Issued
- Details
- Category: Governmental News
- Published: Sunday, 09 June 2019 07:51
A day before June 5th, the World Environment Day, Ningbo Ecological Environmental Bureau issued the city’s 2018 Environmental Quality Evaluation Report. According to the report, the city’s environment is improving.
Water and air quality are the top concerns of the public. The report reveals that major water sources are in good quality and the surface water quality is also improving, with Category V water being eliminated. The PM 2.5 amount in downtown areas has, for the first time, reached the nation’s 2nd grade standard (35mcg/m³). Throughout the year, 320 days have recorded normal air quality while the other 45 days have witnessed pollution varied from light level to heavy level.
The conventional air pollutants have been curbed to the standards in all areas excluding Cixi, Yuyao, Jiangbei Districts, and the Dongqian Lake tourist area. The year 2018 witnessed the number of annual smog days reducing by 13 days from 2017 to 25 days, with a decrease rate of 3.6%.
Another concern among the public is the acid rain. In 2018, the rain acidity has been weakened and the rain appeared at an average rate of 58.1%, a year-on-year decrease of 6.5%. Compared with the previous year, the rain acidity in Beilun District and Ninghai County have bettered from middle level to light level.
The public pay equal heed to water environment. Last year recorded an overall improvement in the city’s surface water quality, with a substantial rise in the rate of A- and B-level water whose function cut the mustard. Cross section with Category V water was not found. Of 80 surface water cross sections monitored, 80% are of level A or level B water quality. Almost all areas in the city have recorded generally good water quality, with some areas lightly polluted.
The drinking water quality was good. Of 34 major drinking water sources collectively monitored, all had satisfying water quality. And the algae bloom at the waters sources has been brought under control.
Yet, situations on ocean environment were not that delighting. The offshore areas were so eutrophicated that all these areas were of Category V water quality. Mainly polluted by inorganic nitrogen and reactive phosphate, the areas could not bring their functions into full play.
In terms of sound environment, downtown areas in Ningbo (Fenghua excluded) recorded 56.1 decibels of regional noise, which was of medium level. Some of the areas with relatively good sound environment were Yuyao, Cixi, Fenghua, Ninghai, and Xiangshan, among which Xiangshan performed the best.
As for the city’s natural ecological environment, the Ecological Index (EI) was 80.3 which means the city’s ecological environment was at top level, ranking 6th among 11 cities with districts in Zhejiang Province. The eco-environment in Zhenhai District, Cixi City and Jiangbei District were at B level while other areas A level