Report on China’s Surface Water Quality Management and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing National Water Security

The People’s Republic of China, through its Ministry of Ecology and Environment, has announced strategic plans to enhance its national surface water monitoring network. This initiative, scheduled for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), is designed to expand surveillance to over 200 tributaries and smaller water bodies. The primary objective is to create a monitoring system that more accurately reflects the water environment conditions experienced by the public, thereby strengthening the nation’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation) and related environmental targets.

Progress in Achieving SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

China has demonstrated consistent and significant improvement in surface water quality over the past decade. This progress is a direct contribution to SDG Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution. Key achievements include:

• The proportion of surface water meeting or exceeding Grade III quality standards increased from 64.5% in 2015 to 90.4% in 2024.
• Continuous improvement is anticipated for the current year, reinforcing the nation’s long-term commitment to water resource management.

Strategic Initiatives Supporting SDGs 6, 12, 14, and 15

The reported improvements are attributed to a series of comprehensive measures targeting pollution sources and enhancing infrastructure. These actions support multiple SDGs by addressing industrial pollution, sanitation, and ecosystem health.

1. Pollution Source Identification and Rectification: In a direct effort to curb pollution at its source, aligning with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), environmental authorities have:
   • Surveyed 580,000 kilometers of shorelines across seven major river basins.
   • Identified 360,000 drainage outlets.
   • Rectified over 90% of the regulatory violations associated with these outlets.
2. Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure Development: To advance SDG 6, significant investment has been made in sanitation infrastructure, particularly in key industrial regions.
   • 2,700 new sewage treatment plants have been constructed.
   • 3,500 issues concerning inadequate or malfunctioning sewage pipe networks have been addressed.

These measures not only improve water quality for human use but also protect aquatic ecosystems (SDG 14: Life Below Water) and terrestrial habitats dependent on clean water (SDG 15: Life on Land).

Future Directives: Integrating Public Well-being and Environmental Goals (SDGs 3 & 11)

Despite overall statistical improvements, the Ministry acknowledges that localized pollution incidents continue to affect communities and ecosystems, leading to public concern. Reports of pollution causing the death of trees, fish, and shrimp highlight the need for a more people-centric approach. This perspective aligns environmental protection with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

The official policy direction emphasizes that environmental protection must consider the direct experiences and feedback of the populace, moving beyond a sole reliance on aggregate data. The planned expansion of the monitoring network is a key component of this strategy, aiming to ensure that the benefits of a clean environment are felt at the local level.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to water quality, pollution control, and environmental monitoring, which directly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main SDGs identified are:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on China’s efforts to improve the quality of its surface water, monitor water bodies, treat sewage, and address water pollution problems that affect the public. The initiative to expand the national surface water monitoring network and the report on the improved proportion of high-quality surface water are central to this goal.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article mentions specific actions related to industrial infrastructure. The ministry’s efforts to “promote the construction of concentrated sewage treatment facilities in major industrial parks” directly relate to upgrading infrastructure and making industries more sustainable by managing their wastewater and reducing pollution.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article connects water quality directly to the well-being of people. The official statement that “the overall improvement does not necessarily mean that all water pollution problems at people’s doorstep have been effectively addressed” and the mention of “online water pollution complaints from many areas” highlight the goal of reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities and improving the living conditions for residents.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  Although the focus is on surface water, the protection of aquatic ecosystems is a key component. The article mentions that some pollution complaints led to the “death of trees, fish and shrimps,” directly linking water quality to the health of local ecosystems. The goal of monitoring and improving the condition of river basins contributes to the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the actions and goals described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

  This target is directly addressed through multiple actions mentioned in the article. The efforts to rectify violations at 360,000 drainage outlets, build 2,700 sewage treatment plants, and address problems with sewage pipe networks are all aimed at reducing pollution and increasing the treatment of wastewater.

• Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

  The plan to strengthen the national surface water monitoring network by including “over 200 tributaries and small water bodies” is a direct measure to better understand and manage the health of these water-related ecosystems, which is the first step towards their protection and restoration.

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.

  The initiative to promote “the construction of concentrated sewage treatment facilities in major industrial parks, particularly in the basins of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers” is a clear example of retrofitting industries and upgrading infrastructure to make them more environmentally sound and sustainable.

• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

  The official’s emphasis on addressing “water pollution problems at people’s doorstep” and listening to the “feelings and voices of the people” regarding local pollution incidents reflects a focus on reducing the direct environmental impact on urban and local populations.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 6.3 (related to Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality):

  The article provides a direct quantitative measure: “the proportion of surface water with quality at or above Grade III reached 90.4 percent in 2024, compared to 64.5 percent in 2015.” This percentage serves as a direct indicator of ambient water quality.

• Indicator for Target 6.3 (related to Indicator 6.3.1: Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated):

  Progress is implied through output indicators such as the construction of “2,700 sewage treatment plants” and the rectification of “over 90 percent of the violations associated with” 360,000 drainage outlets. These numbers measure the expansion of infrastructure for wastewater treatment.

• Indicator for Target 6.6 (related to Indicator 6.6.1: Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time):

  The expansion of the monitoring network to cover “over 200 tributaries and small water bodies” is an indicator of increased governmental capacity and focus on protecting a wider extent of water-related ecosystems.

• Qualitative Indicators for Target 11.6:

  The article implies progress can be measured by the reduction of public complaints and the resolution of local pollution incidents. The official’s reference to “online water pollution complaints” and the need to focus on the “feelings and voices of the people” suggests that public perception and the number of localized pollution events are used as informal indicators of environmental quality at the community level.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: chinadaily.com.cn