Promoting the Establishment of China’s Rural Domestic Wastewater Standard System Based on the 6S Principle

The standardization of rural domestic wastewater (RDW) management is crucial for mitigating its negative environmental impacts. China has seen a significant increase in RDW emissions over the past decade, paralleled by the development of RDW management standards. This study reviews the development process of China’s RDW management standard system, analyzes RDW management practices in terms of standards in the United States, Japan, the European Union, and New Zealand. Considering the current situation and characteristics of China’s RDW treatment industry, this paper proposes a novel 6S principle that includes Specificity (adjusting standards to local conditions), Scientificity (ensuring the feasibility of standard indicators and thresholds), Suitability (developing technical guidelines suitable for different regions), Supervision (implementing monitoring, management, maintenance, and evaluation of RDW treatment facilities), Servitization (promoting reclaimed water reuse and nutrient recovery), and Systemization (establishing a complete RDW standard system). This principle covers the entire life cycle of RDW treatment system and offers targeted suggestions to address the strengths and weakness of the RDW management standard system. China can update and form a comprehensive RDW standard system and then improve the RDW management according to the 6S principle. The present paper has the potential to guide the establishment and improvement of RDW standard system in China and other developing countries.