River cleaners keep Yangtze waters clear(5)

Riverboats sail on the Yangtze River in Wushan county to pick up floating garbage. LI MENGHAN/CHINA DAILY

In Wushan, sewage treatment plants have been constructed in towns and villages with populations exceeding 500, achieving a centralized treatment rate of 98 percent of urban sewage. A specialized dock has been established to handle ship and oil waste, preventing them from being discharged and protecting the Yangtze River from pollution, he said.

These measures have not only significant meaning to water quality improvement, but also bear important ecological significance, Chen said.

The annual average concentration of phosphorus in Wushan's stretch of the Yangtze was 0.047 mg per liter last year. There has also been an increase of 12 fish species in the area over the past 20 years.

"In the future, we will continue to prioritize the protection of the Yangtze River, harnessing technology to enhance our conservation efforts," Chen said, adding that more investment will be put into using technology such as artificial intelligence so that cameras can monitor and identify debris in real time and coordinate swift removal.