[Mainland China] Reclaimed Water Reuse Rate on Meizhou Island, Fujian Surges from 0 to 81.8%: "Beneficiary-Pays" Mechanism Breaks the Island's Water Scarcity Deadlock

The Ministry of Water Resources released typical national cases of reclaimed water utilization configuration pilots, and the practice of Meizhou Island in Putian, Fujian Province was selected as one of the national 14 typical cases (the only one in Fujian Province). On this island where per capita water resources are only 59 cubic meters, during the pilot period, reclaimed water utilization increased from 0 to 144.8万 cubic meters, the reclaimed water utilization rate jumped from 0 to 81.8%, accounting for 60% of the island's total water consumption, and it took the lead in exploring the "beneficiary pays" ecological water replenishment mechanism, setting the ecological water replenishment price at 0.8元/cubic meter based on "cost compensation + reasonable profit", saving approximately 400万 yuan in annual fresh water procurement costs.

Island with Extreme Water Scarcity: 98% of Water Supply Once Relied on Cross-Sea Pipelines

Meizhou Island has a land area of only 14.35 square kilometers and a permanent population of approximately 4.5万 people. The island has no surface rivers or large-scale water storage projects, with per capita water resources of only 59 cubic meters — less than one-eighth of the internationally recognized 500 cubic meter "extreme water scarcity" threshold. In the past, 98% of the island's water supply relied on cross-sea pipelines from outside the island, which was costly and risky — truly a case of "lifeline hanging by a thread."

2022年6月, Meizhou Island was approved as a national pilot city for reclaimed water utilization configuration in typical regions. The local government made up its mind: treat reclaimed water as a "second water source" and turn every drop of wastewater into a resource.

Systematic Engineering: A "One Core, Two Axes" Reclaimed Water Allocation System

Following the approach of "centralized treatment, graded supply, and distributed storage," Meizhou Island has established a reclaimed water utilization and allocation system with the wastewater treatment plant as the "one core" and two north-south pipelines as the "two axes":

• One Core: Capacity Expansion and Standard Upgrading — The daily treatment capacity of the wastewater treatment plant was increased from 5000 cubic meters to 1万 cubic meters, adopting the process of "screen and grit chamber—AAO tank—secondary clarifier—high-efficiency sedimentation tank—denitrification deep-bed filter—contact disinfection tank," with effluent meeting the Class A standard;
• Two Axes: Precision Conveyance and Distribution — The central axis builds an ecological water replenishment corridor of "tailwater wetland—Hushiliang—mangrove estuary," while the southern axis replenishes rural water systems. The island has built a pipeline network of 26 kilometers and 68 water distribution points, covering all scenarios including farmland, rivers and lakes, mangroves, greening, and road cleaning;
• Water Quality Nourishing Ecology — Hushiliang, once a劣Ⅴ类 black and odorous water body, now has rippling blue waves and has become an ecological park where tourists flock to take photos.

During the pilot period, the island achieved "four 100%" in sewage collection rate, key project completion rate, administrative village coverage rate, and water quality compliance rate. The reclaimed water utilization rate jumped from 0 to 81.8%, and reclaimed water accounted for 60% of total water consumption.

Mechanism Innovation: Ecological Water Replenishment with "Clear Pricing"

Once reclaimed water is produced, how can it be used sustainably? Meizhou Island's answer is to give "ecology a price" and make "beneficiaries pay" — this is one of the earliest reclaimed water ecological water replenishment trading mechanisms explored nationwide:

• Definition of Rights and Responsibilities — The landscaping company is clearly designated as the management and maintenance entity and beneficiary of ecological assets such as mangrove wetlands and Hushiliang, and bears the payment responsibility;
• Price Determination — The ecological water replenishment price is set at 0.8元/cubic meter based on "cost compensation + reasonable profit";
• Transaction Implementation — A reclaimed water ecological water replenishment service purchase agreement is signed, with settlement based on metered volume.

This mechanism has shifted ecological water replenishment from "fiscal underwriting" to "contractual binding," providing a replicable paradigm for commercial pricing of reclaimed water.

Energy-Carbon Synergy: A Zero-Carbon Experiment with Photovoltaic Canopies + Digital Twin

As part of the "Zero-Carbon Island" initiative, Meizhou Island has also explored a "water-energy-carbon" synergistic pathway: a 441 kW photovoltaic canopy was installed at the wastewater treatment plant, which can guarantee 81% of its own electricity consumption during the day, reducing energy costs by 25% or more; a wind-solar-storage-charging integrated system was built to power the reclaimed water pumping stations, with clean electricity achieving 100% consumption; all processes of sewage collection, treatment, conveyance, and utilization are included in carbon emission accounting, and an island-level digital twin dual-carbon platform has been established to achieve integrated water-carbon management. 2026年8月15日On the fourth National Ecology Day, the island's reclaimed water practice was widely reported as a model case.

What This Means for Us: Observations from TIANYI TECH

The most valuable aspect of the Meizhou Island case is not the figure 81.8%, but rather the proof that reclaimed water can become a primary water source in scenarios of extreme water scarcity and extreme decentralization. Its "one core, two axes" configuration system and the "beneficiary-pays" pricing mechanism hold significant replication value for decentralized water-scarce scenarios such as islands, mountainous county towns, and industrial parks. TIANYI TECH similarly adheres to the principle of "first calculating the water balance, then establishing the pricing mechanism" in its reclaimed water reuse projects: from baseline surveys of water consumption structures and design of differentiated water supply, to ecological replenishment agreements and the establishment of metering and settlement systems, transforming reclaimed water from an engineering issue into a sustainable business model. With the nationwide promotion of experience from 76 reclaimed water configuration pilot projects, the "Meizhou Island Model" will take root and thrive in more water-scarce regions.

About TIANYI LIMITED: TIANYI LIMITED is deeply engaged in the fields of wastewater treatment and reclaimed water reuse, committed to providing efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable water treatment solutions for municipal and industrial clients.

Sources: Public information including the Fujian Provincial People's Government portal (2026年8月13日), the Putian Channel of Southeast Net (2026年8月15日), and typical case publications on reclaimed water utilization configuration pilots in representative regions by the Ministry of Water Resources. This article is a compilation of industry information for readers' reference.