With the growth of urban populations, the discharge amount of urban sewage and wastes consequently increased. The urban infrastructure was thus further improved. The quality of air in urban areas was generally fine. The water quality of the majority of drinking water sources met requirements and population demand. Noise-levels were controlled. However, the organic pollution of rivers flowing through urban areas was still acute.

Urban Rivers

The urban rivers suffered severe organic pollution. 45.4% of monitored sections of 30 rivers and waters in 15 cities, met Grade Ⅰ - Ⅲ, 18.2% met Grade Ⅳ - Ⅴ, and 36.4% were below Grade Ⅴ. 50.0% of the monitored sections complied with the standards for water environmental functions. The main pollutants affecting the water quality of urban rivers, were permanganate index, BOD, ammonia nitrogen and TP. Compared with the previous year, the monitored sections of urban rivers, which met Grade Ⅰ - Ⅲ, decreased somewhat. The sections which met Grade Ⅳ - Ⅴ, almost remained virtually the same, while those which were below Grade Ⅴ increased in number.

Urban Drinking Water Source Protected Areas

There were 37 drinking water source protected areas in 22 cities, of which 83.8% met the required standards of collective drinking water source protected areas, and 16.2% did not meet these requirements.

The major pollution factors affecting water quality included TP, TN, fecal coliform bacteria, lead, DO and petroleum.

Compared with the previous year, the water quality of the majority of drinking water source protected areas remained stable, the proportion of the areas in which the water quality improved was lightly higher than those areas in which the water quality worsened.

Urban Air

The air quality in most cities was good. However, some cities suffered serious incidences of suspended substances in the air. Of 19 major cities in which the air quality was monitored, 15.8% met the air quality standards for Grade Ⅰ, 68.4% met Grade Ⅱ, 10.5% met Grade Ⅲ , and 5.3% was below Grade Ⅲ .

The annual average of SO₂ in 13 cities met the air quality standards for Grade Ⅰ , covering 68.4% of all 19 cities; 5 cities met Grade Ⅱ , covering 26.3%; and 1 city was below Grade Ⅲ, covering 5.3%. The annual average concentration of NO₂ in all 19 cities met Grade Ⅰ. In 3 of the 19 cities the annual average value of suspended inhalable substances and particles met Grade Ⅰ, covering 15.8%; 13 cities met Grade Ⅱ covering 68.4%; while 3 cities met Grade Ⅲ, covering 15.8%.

There were significant differences between areas polluted by SO₂. The daily average concentration of SO₂ in 7 cities located in Acid Rain Control Regions was 4.67 times that of the other 12 cities and the overall SO₂ pollution in Acid Rain Control Regions was much high than other areas.

With the Exception of Shangri-La County, of 18 cities air quality improved in 11.1%, deteriorated in 11.1% and remained the same in 77.8% of the cities.

Urban Acoustic Environment

Road Traffic Noise Environment

Sound levels from road traffic noise in 18 cities, ranged from 63.2 to 75.8 dB, compared with a provincial average of 68.6dB. Road sections with a sound level value of over 70.0dB covered 33.2% of the total length of all those monitored. 72.2% cities met the national standards for road traffic noise. Compared with the previous year, the overall average sound level of traffic noise in the province decreased by 0.7dB. The average sound level value of traffic noise in 52.9% cities decreased, while 5.9% worsened and the rest maintained at the same levels.

Acoustic Environment of Functional Areas

13.3% of all functional areas in 15 cities were standard-compliant for traffic noise. For each functional area, the standard-compliant ratios were as follows: 25.0% in type-0 functional areas, 26.7% in type-1 functional areas, 66.7% in type-2 functional areas, 81.8% in type-3 functional areas, and 27.3% in type-4 functional areas. Compared with the previous year, the average noise levels in 35.8% functional areas decreased, 43.4% increased and 20.8% recorded no significant change.

Acoustic Environment of Regional Areas

The average equivalent sound level value of the province's regional areas, measured across 12 cities, ranked from 50.6dB to 61.0dB. 66.7% of the areas had a comparatively good sound environment, 25.0% were slightly polluted and 8.3% were moderately polluted. The main sources of noise, affecting the quality of the urban acoustic environment were from household life and road traffic. Compared with the previous year, noise levels in 33.3% of regional areas decreased, 11.1% increased and 55.6% recorded no significant change.

Discharge of Urban Pollutants

Domestic Sewage

The discharge amount of urban domestic sewage was 325.526 million tons, of which 192,372.20 tons were COD and 15,094.00 tons were ammonia nitrogen. Compared with the previous year, the amount of urban domestic sewage, COD and ammonia nitrogen increased respectively by 2.9%, 6.4% and 0.6%.

Urban Air Pollutants

71,884.00 tons of SO₂ and 39,029.00 tons of smoke dust were produced by urban households. Compared with the previous year, the amount of SO₂ increased by 1.3%, and smoke dust decreased by 11.9%.

Domestic Waste

4.91 million tons of domestic wastes were produced by the urban population in 2003.


Measures and Actions

Urban Infrastructure Construction

The total amount of water supplied to urban areas was 759 million m³. 23 sewage treatment plants, including those completed but not yet in operation, were completed, resulting in a treatment capacity of 865,500 tons/day. The greening rate of the urban areas was 14.1% and the total amount of gas supplied to urban areas reached 16.89 million m³, with 54.1% of urban households enjoying provision of gas heating. The amount of urban domestic waste which was treated was 3.7463 million tons/year, of which 1.731 million tons/year was treated throughout, representing 35.3% of the total amount.

Establishment of Environmental Demonstration Cities

Work in this area for Kunming City made progress. The Master Plan for Establishing National Environmental Protection Demonstration Cities and its appendix plans for six specific campaigns were formulated. In addition, the Action Plan of the Master Plan was issued, which established targets and principles for the scheme. Yuxi City made great efforts to become the National Environmental Protection Demonstration City . Fortunately it met the requirements of 22 out of a total of 27 indicators for this. Yuxi City hopes to be the National Environmental Protection Demonstration City by the end of the Tenth Five-Year Plan.

Control and Prevention of Tail-pipe Emissions in Urban Areas

Kunming City continued the control and prevention of urban tail-pipe emissions by strengthening the supervision and management of the relevant institutions. 12,451 vehicles were monitored, of which 73.20% met the required standard. 4,759 vehicles were treated for exceeding the standards and 2,776 were forced to install cleaning devices for tail-pipe emissions of varied types.

Campaign for No Coal-burning, No Plastic-bags, No Phosphorus-contained detergents and No Lead-contained petroleum in Urban Areas

Kunming and Gejiu Cities increased their efforts in these various ‘banning' campaigns. 1,500 coal-burning ovens were banned, and 0.70 million plastic bags, 2.20 million non-degradable food-packages and 8,000kg phosphorus-contained detergents were confiscated. Petrol stations were inspected and results revealed that 100% usage of non-lead petroleum. The bans on coal-burning and plastic bags, which were implemented in the key scenic spots of Lijiang and Diqing Prefectures, were marked by significant success.

Cleaner Energy Campaign, Smoke Dust Control and Standard-Compliant Areas of Noise

22 Smoke Dust Control Areas were established over a total area of 211.9 km². 23 standard-compliant areas of noise were set up over a total area of 131.70 km². 4 areas, which banned the burning of high-pollution fuels, were established over an area of 75.5 km². The government of Qujing City endorsed and implemented an Action Plan for a city-wide Cleaner Energy Campaign.

Integrated Treatment and Quantitative Examination of the Comprehensive Improvement of the Urban Environment

The work was done in order to further improve the level of management of cities and proceed the integrated treatment of the urban environment and continuously enhance the functions of the primary cities. A total of 14 city-level cities, were scored in accordance with a quantitative examination of the comprehensive improvement of the urban environment. The cities that were scored and ranked included (in order of success): Yuxi, Gejiu, Chuxiong, Baoshan, Anning, Jinghong, Ruili, Dali, Luxi, Simao, Qujing, Xuanwei, Kaiyuan, and Zhaotong.