China's transition from combating water contamination to revitalizing ecosystems
In recent years, China has made significant strides in addressing surface water pollution, particularly in the realm of drinking water quality. Between 2014 and 2024, the percentage of surface water suitable for drinking, fishing, and direct human contact rose from 63% to 90.4%. This improvement is a testament to China's commitment to improving its water resources.
One of the key factors contributing to this progress is the focus on tackling new pollutants. In 2022, China announced a campaign to address pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and antibiotics. This campaign has been instrumental in reducing the levels of these harmful substances in China's water bodies.
However, the fight against surface water pollution is far from over. Studies have found antibiotics to be common in China's surface water and even groundwater, with agriculture being the biggest source. In the Yangtze River basin, 1,600 tonnes of antibiotics reached the water and other environments every year between 2013 and 2021.
Phosphorous pollution, another major culprit in poor water quality, is now mainly caused by agriculture, with 99% of the pollution coming from this source. This has led experts to suggest that the focus should shift to rural areas and agricultural pollution.
China's water-monitoring network received a boost in 2015 with the State Council's Water Pollution Action Plan. Since then, the number of central and local government water-monitoring points publishing data has increased more than sixfold. This increased monitoring has helped in identifying over 3,000 "foul waterways" since 2016.
Quick action is crucial in addressing water pollution incidents. An emergency response was triggered four hours after abnormal levels of thallium were identified, according to a notice. Thallium, a toxic element that causes both acute and chronic poisoning, is not typically tested for in China's surface water quality standards.
Despite these efforts, groundwater pollution remains a significant challenge in achieving the goals of the 2015 action plan. Over 20% of groundwater was deemed to be Class V - too polluted to drink - between 2021 and 2024, according to annual environmental bulletins.
As water quality improves, the government's focus is shifting from controlling pollution to restoring ecosystems. Experts have stated that the focus should be on stopping the release of new pollutants at source. He Linghui, deputy director of Shenzhen Zero Waste, commented that this approach is more effective in the long run.
China has published plans for improving rural water quality, but these plans lack quantified targets, stating only that things should be coming under control by the end of 2025. Luo Wushan, a senior inspector with the MEE's South China Inspectorate, suggests exploring in situ recycling for rural areas, using the restoration and creation of river and lake ecologies to increase the water's ability to clean itself.
In conclusion, China has made significant progress in tackling surface water pollution since the implementation of the 2015 action plan. However, challenges such as groundwater pollution and agricultural pollution remain. The focus should shift to these areas to ensure China continues to make progress in improving its water quality.
