Shanghai’s main source of water is from the Huangpu River, which runs through a number of administrative provinces before reaching the city. The Shanghai Water Authority measures water quality and identifies contamination in the river before it enters the water system via a city-wide monitoring network and control centre.

Mott MacDonald provided technical expertise to develop a thorough study of the Shanghai water sector. This involved assessing and developing the authority’s water demand management regulations, promoting a public education and awareness programme, studying water lost before it reaches the customer, demanding profile management and enhancing a water reclamation programme to make productive use of wastewater.

We also carried out a water supply risk assessment to improve water provision security. This included a water resources strategic planning study, a vulnerability assessment for water utility companies and emergency planning training for water utility staff. This project will make a remarkable contribution to Shanghai’s water operation.

We worked on the first two phases of the project which involved the initial set-up of the central water control centre. We then proposed the policy, measures and suggestions required for the sustainable development of Shanghai’s water resource utilisation.