Technical workers use testing equipment to inspect water quality in Ningbo. [Photo/ cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, was recently awarded the Dayu Cup for its achievements in water control over the past year, local media reported on Aug 13. 

This is the third year in a row that Ningbo has received the highest provincial award for water control.

The Dayu Cup represents the highest honor in Zhejiang province for water control. It is named after Dayu, a legendary ancient Chinese hero who is most famous for managing to control the flooding of the Yellow River. 

The city has been focusing heavily on water control in recent years, working to reduce the direct discharge of sewage, preventing water pollution, and improving river quality.

The sewage treatment rate in the city’s central urban area reached 94.8 percent in 2019, up 2.5 percent year-on-year, and the urban sewage treatment rate in its four counties and county-level cities - Yuyao, Cixi, Ninghai, and Xiangshan - reached more than 94 percent.

This year, 80 urban residential communities, 16 industrial parks, and 30 towns and townships hope to completely eliminate sewage discharge in Ningbo.