Water Pollution

Dead fish in Hangzhou Pond

Chinese statistics estimate that 40% of the water in the country’s surface waters is only fit for industrial or agricultural use, and only after treatment. Approximately 20,000 chemical factories, half of which are situated along the Yangtze River, are dumping without proper restrictions into China’s rivers. In 2006, nearly half of China’s major cities failed to meet the state quality standards in terms of drinking water, and a third of surface-water samples taken were considered severely polluted.

One third of water water from industries and over 90 per cent of household sewage is released into rivers and lakes without treatment, and 278 cities in China have no sewage treatment facilities and few have plans to build any. Additionally, underground water supplies in 90 per cent of cities are contaminated.

An article by The Guardian reported, The head of China’s ministry of water resources said in 2012 that up to 40 percent of the country’s rivers are “seriously polluted”. Also, an official report from the summer of 2012 found that up to 200 million rural Chinese have no access to clean drinking water. Findings show that China’s lakes are affected by pollution-induced algae blooms, causing the water surfaces to turn a bright iridescent green. Yet greater threats may lurk underground; a recent government study found that groundwater in 90 per cent of China’s cities is contaminated, most of it severely.

Algae bloom in a Yunnan Lake

Water consumption in China contains dangerous levels of arsenic, fluorine and sulphates. Approximately 980 million of China’s population consume water daily, water that is partially polluted. More than 600 million Chinese consume water affected with human or animal wastes, and 20 million drink well water affected with high levels of radiation. On top of that, China’s high rates of liver, stomach and oesophageal cancer have been linked to water pollution.

More astonishing facts regarding China’s wastewaters can be found here.

Also, Here is a video (in Chinese) depicting some unsightly pollution in China’s waters.