Importing wastewater equipment from China goes smoothly when you send a complete specification, confirm drawings and materials before production, inspect the equipment at the factory, and agree packing, Incoterms, commissioning support, spare parts and warranty in writing. Most problems trace back to missing data in the RFQ, especially design flow, influent and effluent quality, and local power supply.
How do you import wastewater equipment from China successfully?
Successful imports start with a clear specification and end with a documented handover. Send a complete RFQ, approve drawings and materials before fabrication, verify the equipment with a factory acceptance test (in person, by video or through a third party), agree packing and Incoterms, and confirm installation support, spare parts and warranty in the contract.
This checklist walks through each step from the buyer's side. It applies to package sewage treatment plants, dissolved air flotation units, sludge dewatering machines and most other water and wastewater equipment.
Step 1: What should your RFQ include?
A complete request for quotation (RFQ) lets suppliers size equipment correctly and lets you compare quotes on equal terms. Include the following:
Process data
- Design flow: average daily flow (m³/day) and peak hourly flow (m³/h), plus any future expansion.
- Influent quality: BOD5, COD, TSS, ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, oil and grease, pH, temperature and any special contaminants (metals, salinity, toxic compounds). Laboratory reports are better than estimates.
- Effluent quality: the exact discharge or reuse limits you must meet, with the name of the governing standard.
- Operating pattern: hours per day, batch or continuous, and seasonal variation.
Site and utility data
- Power supply: voltage, phase and frequency. China's industrial supply is typically 380V/50Hz three-phase, but many projects need other supplies, such as 400V/50Hz, 415V/50Hz, 380V/60Hz, 440V/60Hz or 460–480V/60Hz. Motors, pumps, blowers and control panels must be built for the destination supply.
- Control voltage and standards: control circuit voltage, required panel protection rating (IP rating), and any electrical standards or certification marks your market requires.
- Climate: ambient temperature range, humidity, altitude and whether equipment is indoors or outdoors.
- Space and access: available footprint and height, and transport access to site.
- Language: language required for nameplates, HMI screens and manuals.
Commercial data
- Required delivery date and destination port.
- Preferred Incoterm and payment terms.
- Scope boundaries: what the supplier provides and what you or your contractor provide locally (civil works, piping, cabling, chemicals).
Step 2: Which drawings and documents should you request?
Before production, ask for and approve:
- Process flow diagram (PFD) showing every treatment stage.
- General arrangement (GA) drawings with dimensions, weights, nozzle positions and foundation loads.
- P&ID (piping and instrumentation diagram) for larger systems.
- Electrical drawings: single-line diagram, control panel layout and wiring diagram.
- Equipment list with make, model, power rating and quantity of each pump, blower, motor and instrument.
- Bill of materials stating material grades.
- Operation and maintenance manual and recommended spare parts list (final versions are usually issued at shipment).
Signed drawing approval protects both sides: it fixes what will be built before steel is cut.
Step 3: How do you choose the right materials?
Material choice affects corrosion life and cost. Match it to the wastewater, chemicals and climate.
| Material | Typical use | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel 304 | Frames, tanks, screens, DAF units for general wastewater | Good corrosion resistance, clean appearance | Can suffer pitting in high-chloride water |
| Stainless steel 316 / 316L | Wetted parts in saline, chloride-rich or chemically aggressive service | Better pitting resistance due to molybdenum | Higher cost |
| Carbon steel with anti-corrosion coating | Large tanks, structures, budget-sensitive projects | Low cost, strong | Coating quality and surface preparation are critical; damaged coating must be repaired |
| FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) | Buried package plant tanks, chemical tanks, covers | Corrosion-proof, lightweight | Lower stiffness; correct backfill and anchoring needed when buried |
| PP / PE / PVC | Chemical dosing tanks, pipework, small vessels | Excellent chemical resistance | Temperature and UV limits |
For coated carbon steel, specify surface preparation (for example, abrasive blasting to a stated cleanliness grade), coating system and total dry film thickness, and ask for test records. For stainless steel, ask how welds are pickled and passivated.
Step 4: How do you verify quality before shipment?
Factory acceptance test (FAT)
A factory acceptance test confirms that equipment is built to the approved drawings and operates correctly before it leaves the factory. A typical FAT checklist includes:
- Visual inspection of welds, surface finish and coating.
- Dimensional checks against GA drawings.
- Material verification (mill certificates; portable alloy analysis for stainless steel if required).
- Water filling or leak test for tanks and vessels.
- Running test of motors, pumps, blowers and drives, checking current, direction, noise and vibration.
- Control panel function test, including interlocks, alarms and HMI screens.
- Nameplate check: voltage, frequency and power match your supply.
Video inspection and third-party inspection
If you cannot travel, request a live video inspection in which the factory walks the camera through each checklist item and runs the equipment on request. Ask for photos and videos to be archived with the shipment records. For high-value orders, many buyers appoint an independent inspection company to witness the FAT and loading.
Step 5: How should equipment be packed for sea freight?
Sea transport exposes equipment to humidity, salt air and handling shocks. Confirm:
- Container type: 20GP or 40HQ for most equipment; open-top or flat-rack containers for oversized tanks and frames.
- Packing: wooden cases or crates for loose items and panels; wooden packaging must meet ISPM 15 (heat-treated and stamped) for most destinations.
- Protection: desiccants and moisture barrier wrap for electrical panels and motors; caps on all open nozzles; temporary bracing for rotating parts.
- Securing: lashing and blocking inside the container so heavy units cannot shift.
- Marking and lists: case numbers, weights, lifting points and a detailed packing list that matches the commercial invoice.
- Photos: loading photos showing each item in the container.
Step 6: Which Incoterm should you use?
Incoterms define who pays for and bears risk on each leg of the journey. The most common for equipment from China are:
| Incoterm | Seller arranges | Risk passes to buyer | Suits buyers who |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | Goods ready at factory | At the factory | Have a forwarder handling export clearance in China |
| FOB (Free On Board) | Delivery to and loading on vessel, export clearance | When loaded on board at port of shipment | Want to control ocean freight and insurance |
| CFR (Cost and Freight) | FOB plus ocean freight | When loaded on board at port of shipment | Want the seller to book freight but insure themselves |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) | CFR plus minimum cargo insurance | When loaded on board at port of shipment | Prefer a simple door-to-port arrangement |
| DAP (Delivered At Place) | Transport to named destination | At named destination, before unloading | Want delivered pricing; buyer handles import duties |
Note that under CIF the seller pays freight to your port, but risk still transfers at loading in China, and the required insurance is only minimum cover. Many buyers request extended cover. Import duties, taxes and local clearance remain the buyer's responsibility under all of the terms above.
Step 7: What installation and commissioning support is available?
Agree the support model before ordering:
- Remote support: installation drawings, video calls and step-by-step guidance for your local contractor.
- On-site supervision: a supplier engineer attends installation and commissioning; clarify daily rates, number of days, travel, accommodation and visa responsibilities.
- Training: operator training on routine operation, safety and maintenance, with attendance records.
- Commissioning records: test results, setpoints and a signed handover certificate.
Biological plants need time for biomass to establish, so agree how performance testing will be carried out and when it starts.
Step 8: Which spare parts should you order?
Order spares with the main equipment to avoid air freight and downtime later:
- Commissioning spares: items likely to be needed during start-up, such as fuses, seals and gaskets.
- Operational spares for one to two years: pump seals, diffuser membranes, filter cloths or belts, bearings, wear rings, sensors and relays.
- Critical spares: long-lead items whose failure would stop the plant, such as a spare blower or dosing pump.
Ask for each spare part's specification so you can also source locally where possible.
Step 9: What should the warranty cover?
- Period: commonly 12 months from commissioning or a stated number of months from shipment, whichever comes first.
- Coverage: defects in materials and workmanship; confirm whether labor and freight for replacement parts are included.
- Exclusions: wear parts, consumables, damage from misuse or incorrect power supply.
- Response: how claims are reported and how quickly replacement parts are dispatched.
Quick buyer checklist
- Complete RFQ with flow, influent, effluent and power supply
- Approved PFD, GA and electrical drawings
- Material grades and coating specification confirmed
- FAT completed and documented (in person, video or third party)
- Packing, marking and loading photos confirmed
- Incoterm, insurance and payment terms agreed
- Installation, commissioning and training scope agreed
- Spare parts list ordered
- Warranty terms in the contract
Start your project with Waste Water Equipment Factory
Send your flow rate, influent and effluent data, power supply and destination port to inquiry@waste-water-equipment-factory.com or WhatsApp +86 176 2154 1688, or use our contact page. We will prepare a specification-matched quotation with drawings, an inspection plan and clear shipping terms. Browse our full product range to see what we supply.
FAQ
What is the most important information to include in an RFQ for wastewater equipment?
Include the design and peak flow, influent quality, required effluent quality, local power supply (voltage, phase and frequency), installation conditions and any applicable standards. Without these, suppliers can only quote generic equipment.
Should I buy FOB or CIF from China?
FOB suits buyers who have a freight forwarder and want to control shipping. CIF suits buyers who prefer the seller to arrange the ocean freight and minimum insurance; under both terms, risk passes to the buyer once goods are loaded on board at the port of shipment.
Can I inspect equipment before shipment without traveling to China?
Yes. Many buyers use live video inspection or a third-party inspection company to witness the factory acceptance test, check dimensions, materials and nameplates, and approve packing before shipment.
What warranty is typical for wastewater equipment from China?
A 12-month warranty from commissioning, or a fixed period from shipment, is common for mechanical equipment. Wear parts and consumables are usually excluded, so confirm the terms in the contract.
