Invisible heros: The significant contributions that a "microbial legion" makes to the Yangtze River's protection

Date: 2026-01-23

Meet the "microbial legion" guarding the Yangtze River! In seven wastewater treatment plants in Hunan province, China, a tiny but mighty "army" of microorganisms works in perfect coordination, purifying 280,000 tonnes of sewage every day.

With microorganisms breaking down pollutants, protists restoring water clarity and metazoa scavengers maintaining the ecosystem's health, this biological battlefield ensures that only clean water flows back into nature. From Jan to Nov 2025, the beauty of the Beigang River was restored — a waterway where egrets have now returned to play.

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By China Three Gorges Corporation

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