A sweeping aerial view of Daihai Lake in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/WeChat of Inner Mongolia Daily]

After 19 months of intensive construction, the main phase of the Daihai Lake ecological emergency water supply project in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region has been completed.

The project, which has met the conditions to undertake trial water supplies, is a key part of the comprehensive management of Daihai Lake’s water ecology and is seen as having important strategic significance and long-term ecological benefits.

The main phase involves diverting water from the main stream of the Yellow River to replenish the waters of Daihai Lake during the flood season. The aim is to curb the rapid shrinkage of the Daihai Lake area, improve the water quality of the lake and help drive the sustainable and healthy development of the regional economy.

More birds are to be seen these days at Daihai Lake due to its improved ecological and environmental conditions. [Photo/WeChat of Inner Mongolia Daily]

The maximum design water intake capacity of the project is 95.24 million cubic meters per year.

The total water delivery distance of the project is 134.24 kilometers, including 28.71 km in Tuoketuo county and 73.94 km in Horinger county in Hohhot city and 31.59 km in Liangcheng county in Ulaanqab city.

The main work involved constructing three pump stations, three tunnels and 123.09 km of water pipelines.

Affected by the recent drought in northern China, the water level and flow of the Yellow River have continued to be low and water intake has been limited. At present, the project has not been able to carry out trial water commissioning work as planned and it’s estimated it will officially start operating in August.

A flock of birds takes wing over Daihai Lake. [Photo/WeChat of Inner Mongolia Daily]