The night is deep, and Amal Mulud, the Minister of Water Resources of Mauritania, is still standing quietly on the operating platform of the Beninagi raw water pretreatment station in the Traza district, waiting. Watching all six sets of high-density sedimentation tanks put into trial operation and the turbidity of the effluent on the monitoring screen dropping to 113 NTU (turbidity unit), she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, giving the technician a thumbs up. On August 7th, the Beninagi raw water pretreatment project, undertaken by a subsidiary of China Power Construction Group, successfully passed the acceptance inspection by Mauritania. This project is the best water treatment solution implemented by a Chinese enterprise team after multiple rounds of argumentation, "Mulud said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. Chinese enterprises have efficiently fulfilled their obligations in extreme environments, demonstrating their true professional ability and sense of responsibility. The successful completion and operation of the project will fundamentally alleviate the summer water supply shortage in the capital city of Nouakchott. Mauritania is located in northwest Africa, with approximately 80% of its territory covered by the Sahara Desert, and its climate is dry with little rainfall. The water supply for over 1.5 million residents in Nouakchott mainly comes from the Senegal River, which is then treated by the Beninagi Water Plant and transported to Nouakchott. Every year during the rainy season, the sediment content in the river water increases sharply, and the treatment capacity of water plants is insufficient, often causing water shortages for residents in the capital. Therefore, the Mauritanian government has decided to install a raw water pretreatment system at the front end of the Beninagi water plant and hand over the construction of this livelihood project to Chinese enterprises. This modern raw water pretreatment station is designed with a daily processing capacity of 255000 cubic meters and is equipped with six sets of high-density sedimentation tanks, a central control room, inlet and outlet structures, and other facilities. It only took seven months from construction to full operation - construction began in January this year, the main structure construction began in March, the main project was completed in mid June, and commissioning was completed by the end of July. Sidi Lamin, advisor to the Minister of Water Resources of Mauritania, said that after the project is put into operation, even in the case of significant fluctuations in the turbidity of the Senegal River during the rainy season, the government can still ensure the safety of drinking water for residents along the line and in the capital. They plan to promote this experience nationwide. During the construction period, the project team often faces challenges from high temperatures and sandstorms. High temperatures accelerate the decomposition of chemicals and equipment aging, while sandstorms lead to frequent mechanical failures. Chang Yunfei, the country representative of China Power Construction in Mauritania, introduced that in order to adapt to the local environment, the project uses corrosion-resistant stainless steel impellers and wear-resistant pump components in equipment selection, and the control system also has a high level of protection. They also ensure construction progress and project quality by airlifting key equipment and optimizing sea land intermodal transportation. At noon on the 7th, the inlet gate slowly opened, and the turbid water of the Senegal River flowed into the inlet distribution pool through fully welded steel pipes with a diameter of over one meter, and then diverted into different treatment units. Among them, most of the water flows into the high-density sedimentation tank system, and after high-speed stirring, slow stirring, and sedimentation, the water color gradually changes from turbid yellow to clear. The monitoring results show that the water treatment effect is significant. Hadrami Mohammed, a technical expert at Mauritania's National Water Company, said that the construction of this world-class raw water pretreatment station in such a short period of time is a miracle. Project coordinator Kane Mamadu stated that even during the most difficult rainy season, the capital was able to provide stable supply of clean water that meets the standards, which greatly eased the pressure of scheduling and significantly improved the happiness of residents. As of now, the project has increased the stability of drinking water supply in the capital region of Mauritania to 90%, created about 80 local jobs, and is expected to significantly reduce diseases such as cholera and dysentery that can be transmitted through water sources. The completion of the project will benefit over 1.5 million people in the capital city in the long term, and is a milestone in ensuring people's livelihoods and improving the resilience of urban water supply, according to the Mauritanian media "News". Chang Yunfei said that this pre-treatment station not only reflects the engineering strength of Chinese enterprises, but also provides a replicable technical model for the treatment of high turbidity raw water in arid areas of Africa. This livelihood project provides clean water for the local area and leaves a new footprint of trust and cooperation. Tang Zhongdong, Chinese Ambassador to Mauritania, said that the Beninaghi raw water pretreatment project is another manifestation of the high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between China and Mauritania. China and Mauritius continue to deepen practical cooperation and work together for common development, which will bring greater benefits to the two peoples and inject strong impetus into China Africa cooperation in the new era. (New Society)