PUDONG is working to clear up 870 polluted creeks.

The district is also using satellite and sonar technologies to search for other waterways requiring cleaning.

Hang Yingwei, the Pudong New Area district chief, said yesterday that 279 polluted creeks had already been dealt with as part of the district’s watercourse regulation program.

One of the creeks under review is called Old Sanlingang in Pudong’s Sanlin Town. This 2.6-kilometer-long creek, which links up with Huangpu River, was reported as having dirty water and heavy silt, producing an unpleasant smell.

Furthermore, waste water was often dumped into the creek by residents and construction workers.

According to Zhang Zhiqin, deputy chief of Sanlin Town, an investigation was launched and the results showed that there were no sewage pipes installed in the area to collect waste water, the main pollutant of the creek.

The town government has started a crackdown on unlicensed companies and nearby illegal structures since last year and this year has restored a sluice gate to introduce water from Huangpu River.

Zhang said the creek will be dredged, along with construction of a ditch and planting of greenery to alleviate the creek’s environment. The work is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year.