RED MAPLE LAKE

GUIZHOU, CHINA

Red Maple Lake is the largest lake in Guizhou Province and is the most important scenic site of the province.  It is 31.5 km from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou.  The river basin area of the lake is 1596 km² and the water area is 57.2 km^2.   It is connected to Hundred Flowers Lake, another large lake in the area.  Both Red Maple Lake and Hundred Flowers Lake are made into reservoirs in the ‘60s.  Currently, there are 35 large and medium sized industrial and mining enterprises located in this area.  The area has become the fast growing economic zone of the province with industries such as power generation, chemicals, machinery, building materials, coal mining and textile.   Most of the industrial and mining sites are located close to the river areas that lead into the lake.  Water used by the businesses basically comes from the two lakes and waste water is released into the lakes and the rivers that lead into the lakes.  51% of the industrial waste water goes into Red Maple Lake and 49% goes into Hundred Flowers Lake.  This has caused different levels of pollution to the lake water.

Following are the particulars of Red Maple Lake:

1.      River basin area: 1596 km²

2.      Water area: 57.2 km²

3.      Length: 16 km

4.      Average width: 4 km

5.      Shoreline: 143 km

6.      Holding capacity: 600 million m³

7.      Maximum depth: 45 m

8.      Average depth: 10.52 m

Pollution History

Sep 1994

Sudden contamination of large areas of the waterlands of both Red Maple Lake and Hundred Flowers Lake occured.  Dead fish was more than 230,000 kgs.  Drinking water of neighbouring areas was also affected.

Sep 1995

Downstream of Red Maple Lake again changed color.  Filtered materials were tested and proved to be water bio-organisms and their fragmented bodies.  Lake water clearly showed a periodical trend of worsening.

Mar 1996

Pingbei Fertilizer Plant’s wastewater containing arsenic was released into Red Maple Lake through Yangchang River and caused arsenic poisoning of more than 400 people.  The contaminated area covered both lakes as well as their downstream.

Jun 1996

Algae in Red Maple Lake greatly multiplied, extending from the south side of the lake and rapidly spreading to the north side of the lake.  Water body became more nutritious and affected the normal use of the water resource. Problem continued until August.

Mar 1997

Same algae problem reappeared but much earlier than last year.

Feb 1997

A delegation of the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center (OECC) was sent by the Japanese Ministry of Environmental Protection to help accessing the pollution problem of both lakes.  A comprehensive study was compiled on the environmental problem of the lakes.

The lakes are now under continuous monitoring and a monthly report is published by the Environmental Protection Branch of Guizhou Province.  The items under monitoring are: water temperature, water transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen, index of high doses of the manganese salt of acetic acid, NP, total nitrogen, total potassium, Chlorophyll a, and E. Coli.

According to the recent monthly reports, although the test results varied, in most cases the water quality did not meet the country’s standard (GB3838-2002)

Main Pollution Sources

Red Maple Lake Main Pollution Sources Waste Water Drainage

Unit = 10,000 t/a