(Beijing, November 24) -- With the completion and operation of the second largest sewage treatment plant, Beijing's sewage treatment capacity has reached 2.5 million cubic meters of waste water per day, close to 2.68 million cubic meters per day, a goal set up by the city in its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

   On November 19, the sewage treatment plant of Xiaohongmen, in Beijing's southern suburbs, was inaugurated and put into use, with a treatment capacity of 600,000 cubic meters of waste water per day, serving 1.96 million people living in an area of 223 square kilometers. Plus previous facilities, Beijing is able now to treat a total of 2.5 million cubic meters of waste water a day.

   Beijing has strengthened its sewage treatment capacity since 2003, building other two plants on upstream Liangshuihe River, and laying down pipelines of a length of 170 kilometers. The construction of Xiaohongmen plant brought a fundamental change of the environment in the area. It helps create favorite conditions for the improvement of urban outlook in the south of the city and provide more regenerated water for other parts on the lower stream of the river.