Following a nationwide broadcast on September 13 that exposed wastewater treatment deficiencies in rural areas, local authorities in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province, have responded with urgent corrective actions.

The investigative report highlighted that several villages lacked essential wastewater treatment facilities, and there were significant sanitation risks associated with the pipe networks. In response, starting September 15, emergency measures were activated for Jie Village in Xincheng Town and Yonggu Village in Yonggu Township, where treatment stations had not yet been built. This includes the centralized collection and transfer of sewage for processing.

Simultaneously, the county is accelerating the construction of these treatment facilities, with a firm deadline to have them operational by the end of December. For Dongliu Village in Nanjia Town, where the existing station was idle, the original plan has been revised. Of the 152 household connections already completed, they are now linked to the station, which is running normally. The remaining 40 households, which cannot be connected due to topographical challenges, will receive separate collection and safe, non-hazardous waste treatment.

Taking this incident as a critical prompt, Xiangfen County is conducting a comprehensive review of all existing rural sewage treatment infrastructure. The goal is to establish a robust, long-term operation and maintenance framework that ensures both proper construction and effective management, leading to consistent and sustainable performance.