Utility Services - Sewage
Sewage
SIP has its own Sewage Treatment Works was developed by CSSD and has started
operation since November 1998. The current treatment capacity of this plant is 100,000
m3/day and will be increased to 500,000 m3//day as the park develops.
Fee and Tariffs
The fee structure for sewage is similar to that of water. There are one-off payments for
connecting to the sewage network. These are the Increased Capacity Fee (增容费) and
Engineering Fee (工程费). In addition, there are monthly consumption fees.
Increased Capacity Fee
This will be computed based on 80% of the daily peaked capacity consumption of water
at RMB 600/m3
Note: Sewage is discharged through a designated connection point under the road
surface fronting the user’s land plot. All charges incurred in connecting to its own
premises is the user’s responsibility. (See Engineering Fee).
Engineering Fee
These are the fees incurred for connecting the sewage and rainwater pipes from
designated points near the outside boundary of the user’s land plot to the user’s
premises. The estimated costs:
Connection of a sewage pipe (DN 300mm, L25 m)
Connection of a rainwater pipe (DN450mm, L10 m)
Consumption Fee (Wef 1 April 1998)
Industrial Sewage
Commercial Sewage
Domestic Sewage
RMB 0.80/ m3
RMB 0.80/ m3
RMB 0.80/ m3
RMB 2500
RMB 400
Utility Services - Sewage
SIP Sewage Discharge Standard (Same as State)
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Sewage Discharge Parameters
Standard (mg/L)
Upper Concentration Limits for the First Class Pollutants
Total mercury
0.05
Alkyl mercury
Must not be detected
Total cadmium
0.1
Total chromium
1.5
Hexavalent chromium Compounds
0.5
Total arsenic
0.5
Total lead
1.0
Total nickel
1.0
Total beryllium
0.005
Total argentum
0.5
Upper Concentration Limits for the Second Class Pollutants
pH value
6-9
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
400
Grease & Oil
100
Mineral Oil
30
Formaldehyde
5.0
Benzene series compounds
2.5
Total cyanide
1.0
Sulphide
2.0
Volatile Phenol
2.0
Nitrobenzene
5.0
o
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5 days at 20 C)
300
Chemical Oxygen Demand
500
Organic Phosphorus
0.5
Aniline
5.0
Fluoride
20
Total copper
2.0
Total zinc
5.0
Total manganese
5.0
Total Dissolved Solids
2000
Note:
1. Sewage to be discharged into sewage pipes must not contain substances containing highly
flammable, explosive and toxic gases; solid substances that block the pipe; substances harmful
to staff; substances which affect utilisation, treatment and final discharge of sewage; Viruses
(e.g. typhoid fever, tuberculosis and pneumonia etc); Radioactive substances.
2. Sewage, which exceeds these standards, shall not be diluted to reduce its concentration and
discharged into the sewage pipes. Based on the current conditions of the sewage system, the
maximum concentration of the following three types of pollutants may selectively be relaxed to
TSS : 600mg/l; BOD: 500 mg/l (5d 20oc), COD: 750mg/l. Please apply directly to the SIP
Environment Protection Bureau (EPB).
3. SIP Sewage Discharge Standard is the same as the National Standards. If there are any
parameters that are not listed in the table, please refer to the National Standard or consult with
EPB of SIPAC.
Source: SIP Environment Protection Bureau
Utility Services - Sewage
Trade Effluent Tariff Scheme
SIP adopts the sewage discharge standards established by the State Environment
Protection Bureau (see next page). Users are required to meet these standards before
discharging into public sewers. However, if the user’s sewage exceed the limits set for
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (CODcr) and Total
Suspended Solids (TSS) only, and the discharge volumes are small, it can apply to the
SIP Environment Protection Bureau to participate in the Trade Effluent Tariff Scheme.
Under the scheme, the user pays the Sewage Treatment Works to treat on its behalf. A
ceiling standard is still imposed and the application will be approved selectively.
BOD5 exceeds standard, CODcr  750 mg/l, TSS  600mg/l
300 < BOD5  400
RMB 0.67 / m3
400 < BOD5  500
RMB 1.33 / m3
CODcr exceeds standard, BOD5  300mg/l, TSS 600mg/l
500 < CODcr  600
RMB 1.00 / m3
600 < CODcr  750
RMB 2.50 / m3
TSS exceeds standard, BOD5  300 mg/l, CODcr 500mg/l
400 < TSS  500
RMB 0.50 / m3
500 < TSS  600
RMB 1.00 / m3
Utility Services - Toxic Waste
Toxic Waste Treatment Center
The center, approved by EPB of SIPAC is the only authorised center to handle the toxic
waste collection, transportation, storage and treatment within SIP. Companies which
generate toxic waste shall first apply to EPB then contact the center to handle the toxic
waste disposal.
Toxic Waste Disposal Tariffs
Categories a
A
B
C
D
Description
Tariffs b
(RMB/Ton)
Includes rare toxic wastes. e.g.
thallium
2000
Includes toxic wastes that are most
difficult to treat. e.g. metal sludge,
waste chemicals, organic solvent,
emulsion, etc.
1600
Includes toxic wastes that are difficult
to treat. e.g. medical waste.
1400
Includes common toxic wastes e.g.
waste oil, etching liquid, waste acid,
alkali and packaging materials for
dangerous goods, etc.
1000
Note:
a. The category that the toxic waste falls into will be decided by the Toxic
Waste Treatment Center.
b. Calculation is on per ton basis; quantities less than 1 ton will be
calculated based on 1 ton volume.
Utility Services - Environment Protection & Management
Environment Protection and Management
SIP Atmospheric Emission Standard (Same as National Standard)
Maximum Discharge Standard (Mg/Nm3)
Smoke
Not exceeding Ringelmann No 1
Dust
120
Sulphur dioxide
550
Nitrogen oxide
240
Sulphuric acid mist or sulphur trioxide
45 (calculated as SO3)
Chromic acid mist
0.070
Sulphuric acid mist
45
Hydrogen chloride
100
Chloride
9
Chlorine
65
Nitric acid or oxides of nitrogen
1400 (non-nitric producing, NO2)
240 (nitric acid producing, NO2
Lead and its compounds
0.70
Nickel and its compounds
4.3
Tin and its compounds
8.5
Cadmium and its compounds
0.85
Mercury and its compounds
0.012
Benzene
12
Toluene
40
Dimethylbenzene
70
Phenol
100
Formaldehyde
25
SIP Atmospheric Emission Standard is the same as the National Standard GB 16297-1996. If
there are any parameters that are not listed in the table, please refer to the National Standard
or consult with EPB.
Any factory exceeding the atmospheric discharge standards may be imposed a fine of up to 2
times the basic discharge fee and be ordered to take corrective action within a prescribed time
frame.
Pollutants
SIP Noise Standard (Same as National Standard)
District Type
Daytime dB(A)
Residential, cultural and educational
55
For districts combining residential, commercial
60
& industrial; and central commercial district.
Industrial
65
Areas on both sides of arterial roads
70
Night-time dB(A)
45
50
55
55
Peak value of frequent sudden discharge of noise in the night must not exceed 10dB(A). Peak
value of occasional sudden discharge of noise must not exceed standard value of 15 dB(A).
The recommended standard of measurement is the GB12349-90 (国家标准) noise
measurement method for industrial and factory premises. The method of supervision is to be
executed according to the GB 12349-90 noise measurement method for industrial and factory
premises.
Source: State Environment Protection Bureau, 1 May 90
Utility Services - Environment Protection & Management
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report
In China, the EIA is a regulatory requirement applicable to all manufacturing or industrial
projects. Unlike in many countries where the EIA is a massive audit exercise, the EIA in
China serves mainly to assess the pollution likely to be caused by a project and its
environmental impact. Projects are also assessed for their prevention and control
measures.
In SIP, projects may selectively be exempted from the EIA. Companies are required
submit to an "Environment Impact Self-Assessment (ESA) Form” (环境影响自检表) when
applying for the business license. If SIPAC's Environment Protection Bureau (EPB)
assesses that environmental impact, and measures for prevention and control are
acceptable, companies need not go through an EIA, and the ESA form should be
approved within 10 days of submission.
The ESA form requires investors to submit information regarding:
 Raw materials and chemicals stored or in use.
 Technical aspects of the production process.
 Types and discharged volume of pollutants, including sewage, solid wastes and
atmospheric emissions.
 Discharge of liquid waste (sewage) volume and concentration of key parameters.
In the event that an EIA is necessary, its scope is decided by the EPB. In general, an
EIA must cover water pollution (sewage), atmospheric pollution, solid wastes discharge
and noise pollution. In SIP, however, the scope of EIA depends on the EPB's evaluation
of the ESA form submitted by the company. If, for example, only one type of
atmospheric pollutant is assessed likely to pose environmental problems, the scope of
the EIA may focus on this type of pollutant.
Companies in SIP which are required to conduct an EIA may approach the Suzhou
Environmental Science Research Institute ( 苏 州 环 境 科 学 研 究 所 ). They may also
approach other Grade A and some Grade B research institutes. (The grades are
awarded by the State Environment Protection Bureau) They should confirm their choice
with the SIPAC Environment Protection Bureau before signing the service contract.
The time taken to complete an EIA depends on the scope of the EIA. It usually lasts 2-3
months. There is no fixed tariff system for EIA reports, but the regulations provide for 5
fee components: research (调研), supervised sampling (监测), laboratory experiments
(实验), testing (测试 费), evaluation and reporting (评价和报告编写费).
Utility Services - Environment Protection & Management
Impact on project implementation
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When an environmental assessment of any kind were to be conducted, company is
required to consult and clear with the EPB of SIPAC before it carries out the test.
This is to ensure that the results of test will be recognised by SIPAC.
When applying for the planning permit, a pre-requisite for the planning department to
grant a design approval is that the EIA (if it was required) or ESA form must have
been completed and approved.
Facilities for pollution prevention and control must be designed, constructed and put
into use along with the main project. The pollution prevention and control plans
(blue prints) must be approved by the EPB before applying for the construction
permit. For details, refer to the “Handbook on Development Guidelines in SIP Planning, Construction and Environment Protection”.
When construction and renovation is completed, the EPB must be notified to come
and give its approval. Within one month of starting operations, companies should
complete an application form to apply for written permission to discharge pollutants.
During the course of production, the pollution prevention and control facilities may
not be dismantled or left idle without permission. Whoever does so shall be ordered
to reinstate the facilities and a fine may be imposed. Whenever it is necessary to
stop or dismantle the facilities, the company must obtain advance approval from the
EPB.
Environmental considerations for site selection in SIP

Clean industries (无污染工业) - such industries do not use massive quantities of toxic
and harmful chemicals, do not produce air, water and noise pollution, and are odourfree. Such can be located anywhere within the industrial zone in SIP.
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Light industries (轻污染工业) - such industries do not use massive quantities of toxic
and harmful chemicals, do not set up boiler facilities which use coal and oil, do not
produce noise pollution, and do not produce massive quantities of sewage or waste
residues. Such industries shall be sited with a buffer zone of at least 50 meters from
the nearest residential building.
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General industries (一般工业) - such industries are required to set up pollution
prevention and control facilities according to environmental protection requirements.
They shall be sited with a buffer zone at least 100 meters from the nearest
residential building.
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Special industries (特殊工业) - such industries use relatively large quantities of toxic
and harmful chemicals, and hence produce substantial amounts of sewage and/or
solid wastes. Such industries should be sited with a buffer zone of at least 500
meters from the nearest residential building.