China continues to keep waters clear

Regions in China Take Strong Steps to Protect Water Sources and Ecosystems

Regions and departments in China have taken strong steps to keep the waters clear, focusing on protecting water sources, dealing with dark and smelly water bodies, and protecting ecosystems of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

Improvement in Water Quality

Thanks to these efforts, China has seen consistent improvement in the quality of the water ecological environment. According to the Department of Water Ecology and Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 89.4 percent of monitored sections had fairly good surface water quality — at or above Grade III in the country’s five-tier water quality system, almost reaching the level of developed countries and an increase of 27.8 percentage points since 2012. The share of surface water below Grade V, the lowest level, stood at 0.7 percent, marking an improvement of 10.2 percentage points since 2012.

Safe Drinking Water

China has better guaranteed drinking water safety. Since the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), the country has carried out a special campaign to protect centralized drinking water sources. A total of 10,363 problems found at 2,804 water sources at the county level and above have been rectified, ensuring drinking water safety for 770 million residents. Planning has been completed on the establishment of protection zones for 19,800 drinking water sources at the township level. Over 1,300 water sources in urban areas nationwide have been included in the assessment of the country’s pollution prevention and control efforts.

Elimination of Dark and Smelly Water Bodies

China has eliminated dark and smelly water bodies at a faster pace. As of the end of 2023, such bodies were generally eliminated in cities at the prefectural level and above, while over 70 percent of those bodies were eliminated in county-level cities.

Success Stories: Qinhuai River and Nanming River

The Qinhuai River in Nanjing city, east China’s Jiangsu Province, and the Nanming River in Guiyang city, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, are success stories of river restoration. The water quality of the Qinhuai River remains at Grade III or above, and wild white Amur bream, a first-class provincial protected animal in Jiangsu, has been found in the river. The Nanming River, once a “lifeless river” due to serious pollution, has also been listed as an excellent case of “beautiful rivers and lakes” in the country.

Ecological Conservation of Major Rivers and Lakes

China has also made significant progress in strengthening the ecological conservation of major rivers and important lakes. In 2023, the water quality at the mainstream of the Yangtze River reached Grade II for four consecutive years, while that of the mainstream of the Yellow River met Grade II for two straight years. The area, duration, and density of cyanobacterial blooms in Taihu Lake were all at the lowest levels since 2016.

Improving Water Ecology for a Beautiful China

With the building of a Beautiful China as the overarching principle and the improvement of the quality of water ecology as the core, China will take targeted measures and science-based approaches in accordance with the law and make concerted efforts to improve aquatic environments, water resources, and aquatic ecosystems to continuously keep the waters clear, according to an official of the Department of Water Ecology and Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:

• SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
• SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
• SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:

• Water quality improvement: The article mentions that 89.4% of monitored sections had fairly good surface water quality (at or above Grade III) in China’s five-tier water quality system. This indicates progress towards improving water quality.
• Elimination of dark and smelly water bodies: The article states that such bodies were generally eliminated in cities at the prefectural level and above, with over 70% eliminated in county-level cities. This indicates progress towards eliminating polluted water bodies.
• Drinking water safety: The article mentions that 10,363 problems found at 2,804 water sources have been rectified, ensuring drinking water safety for 770 million residents. This indicates progress towards ensuring safe drinking water.
• Ecological conservation of rivers and lakes: The article highlights improvements in the water quality of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and Taihu Lake, as well as the restoration of aquatic ecosystems in the Qinhuai River and Baiyangdian Lake. These indicate progress towards conserving and restoring aquatic ecosystems.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: en.people.cn

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