Since this year, Huai'an City has undertaken in-depth measures to improve the quality and efficiency of urban sewage treatment, including the targeted campaign for system optimization and maintaining the "plant-network integration" operations. Efforts also include the investigation, detection, remediation, restoration of sewage pipelines, and classified management of drainage users.

In urban sewage treatment, Huai'an has made vigorous efforts to construct 24 compliant areas and complete the annual objectives for upgrading and renovating six urban sewage treatment plants. Currently, all 24 areas have initiated pipeline inspections and project designs, with 16 of them already under construction. The city plans to construct and upgrade 48.7 kilometers of urban sewage pipelines, of which 33.36 kilometers have been completed. Funds for enhancing five urban sewage treatment plants have been secured. From January to July, the average influent COD concentration at urban sewage treatment plants steadily rose to 251 mg/L. Huai'an is striving to obtain the "Two New" policies (large-scale equipment renewals and trade-in of old consumer goods) support. It has acquired RMB 44 million in ultra-long-term special government bonds for three sewage treatment plants in the downtown. Upon project completion, these initiatives will significantly enhance the effluent quality standards.

In terms of sewage treatment in rural regions. Huai'an has continued its improvement initiative to develop one specific plan for one town. The city has comprehensively inspected and repaired the infrastructure of 46 rural sewage treatment plants and carried out adjustments to incorporate the "ten-must-covered" drainage households, ensuring thorough treatment of domestic wastewater. The upgrade tasks for 26 rural sewage treatment plants were completed a year ahead of schedule, and the capacities of 13 plants, which had disproportionate capacities, were revised, significantly enhancing urban wastewater treatment quality and risk resilience. From January to July, the average influent COD concentration at the township sewage treatment plants was 142.6 mg/L, reflecting a 39.2% year-on-year improvement, indicating markedly enhanced sewage collection efficiency.