Drinking Water Safety: Safeguarding Public Health with Cutting-Edge Technology
Drinking water safety is a matter of life and health for everyone. China boasts the world’s most complex water source quality and the largest water supply system.
| Project Name | Key Contributors | Key Organizations |
|---|---|---|
| Creation and Application of a Drinking Water Safety Assurance Technology System | Qu Juhui, Yang Min, Shao Yisheng, Liu Suoxiang, Zhang Jinsong, Zhang Dong, Zhao Li, Yin Daqiang, Lan Huachun, Zhang Lan, Wu Xiaomei, Jia Ruibao, Hu Jiankun, Zhang Zhiguo, Chen Lianggang | Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; China Academy of Urban Planning and Design; Tsinghua University; Beijing Waterworks Group; Shanghai Municipal Investment Water (Group) Co., Ltd.; Shenzhen Water Group Co., Ltd.; Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd.; Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Co., Ltd.; China Urban Water Supply and Drainage Association; Lihe Technology (Hunan) Co., Ltd. |
For over 20 years, Qu Juhui, a researcher at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has led a collaborative team across government, industry, academia, and end users. Together, they overcame numerous technical and managerial challenges in addressing complex water sources and supply conditions, ensuring safe drinking water for urban and rural residents from source to tap.
Light Regulation for MPC Control: The First Line of Defense for Water Sources
China’s water sources face issues such as chemical micro-pollution and algae contamination. Traditional methods, like constructed wetlands, have shown limited effectiveness in restoring water sources and improving water quality. Algal odor compounds, such as 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), affect 40% of water source reservoirs in China and are difficult to remove with conventional treatment processes, posing a key challenge for meeting drinking water standards.
To address this, the research team developed innovative core technologies, including “light regulation for algae suppression and odor control,” resolving water quality challenges in regions like Shanghai and Zhejiang. The team discovered that odor-producing algae growth is regulated by underwater light conditions and proposed a strategy to inhibit their growth by adjusting underwater lighting.
In 2020, the Qingcaosha Reservoir—one of Shanghai’s largest reservoirs—implemented this strategy, reducing MIB production by 80%. This breakthrough effectively resolved the long-standing geosmin-related odor issue in Shanghai’s drinking water.
This achievement was made possible with strong support from Shanghai Chengtou Raw Water Co., Ltd. Our deepest gratitude to them!