A feasibility study report for Lhasa's first urban wastewater treatment plant has been approved by National Development and Reform Commission and construction work is expected to begin soon.

The wastewater treatment plant was first mooted in 1998. The FSR was revised by experts before it was submitted to NDRC due to the special climatic and water-quality conditions of the region. In September 2006, the associated major pipeline project for the plant was completed.

The plant will adopt cyclic activated sludge technology to deal with wastewater. The planned capacity of Phase I is 150,000 tons of wastewater each day.

Currently there is no such plant in Lhasa. Wastewater is drained into the Lhasa River without being properly treated seriously polluting the water quality.