Operators of a newly built sewage treatment plant have run into an unexpected problem, they have no water to treat.
The plant, located in southwestern Qingpu District, was set up to treat sewage in Zhujiajiao Town, an ancient water town in the district. Water pollution has been a growing problem due to the rapidly developing catering industry there and the lack of sewage treatment.
The 45 million yuan (US$5.4 million) plant was completed in April and boasts a treatment capacity of 15,000 cubic meters of sewage a day. But operation has been suspended as pipelines to collect the sewage aren't completed, and plans to build the pipelines inside the town have been rejected.
"It's difficult to lay the pipelines beneath the ancient town, as the installation could damage ancient buildings there," said Lu Qiulin of Shanghai Zhujiajiao Sewage Treatment Project Construction Co.
The company had planned to finish the installation by March, but township authorities were concerned about possible damage and urged to come up with a better plan before starting work, company officials explained.
Authorities are concerned because many houses in the town were built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) or even earlier.
They are made of wood and bricks and have a shallow foundation, which could be damaged by construction, causing them to collapse. In addition, some roads in the town, including the 400-year-old Beidajie Street, the best preserved ancient street in the city's suburbs, are too narrow, about 2 to 4 meters wide, to place many pipes under.
Officials are also worried that the construction could arouse objections from residents, whose business could be affected.
Meanwhile, the 20,000 residents and around 7,000 tourists who visit the town daily keep discharging about 10,000 cubic meters of sewage into the rivers every day, making the pollution worse.