The “Light Adjustment and Algae Inhibition Project at Qingcaosha Reservoir,” jointly implemented by the research team led by Researcher Yang Min and Shanghai Chengtou Raw Water Co., Ltd., has been honored with the 2025 “Green Design Engineering Award” by the World Green Design Organization (WGDO).
Supported by key projects and general projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, related initiatives under the Water Pollution Control and Treatment Project, and projects from Shanghai Chengtou Raw Water Co., Ltd., this project started from the ecological niche characteristics of harmful algae and proposed a green in-situ algae inhibition and odor control technology centered on “light adjustment.” Qingcaosha Reservoir is a newly built raw water reservoir in Shanghai, with a daily supply capacity of 5 million m³, serving approximately 13 million urban residents in Shanghai. Since its establishment, the reservoir has faced seasonal odor issues. Starting in 2020, the technology R&D team leveraged the natural high turbidity of the Yangtze River’s raw water to regulate the light conditions in the reservoir by introducing gravity flow, effectively inhibiting the growth of odor-causing algae. This resulted in a reduction of over 80% in odor-producing substances, essentially resolving the long-standing odor problem that had plagued the reservoir. The project marks a strategic shift from “passive response” to “active prevention,” significantly ensuring the drinking water safety for over 10 million residents in Shanghai. Prior to this, the project had already been recognized as one of the key achievements, winning the 2023 National First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress.
The World Green Design Organization (WGDO), as the first non-profit international organization dedicated to promoting the development of green design, was established in Brussels, Belgium, in 2013. It is an official registration body of the European Union and holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The “Green Design Engineering Award” aims to recognize outstanding engineering projects worldwide that systematically apply green design concepts and achieve goals of pollution reduction, carbon reduction, and carbon neutrality. This award serves not only as an authoritative recognition of green engineering achievements but also as an important banner guiding the industry toward a sustainable future.