Water Environment

Response

• Increased water pollution control in major river basins.
  China has enhanced the dynamic of pollution control measures along its rivers and for that reason, China has listed as a most important project in its environmental plan for its ninth Five-year plan the water control project of the "Three Rivers and Three Lakes".
• Setting deadlines for enterprises to comply with the state standards and strengthening the industrial pollution control and treatment. "Small-sized chemical factory" and "small-sized paper mill", which fail to reach the standards of pollution emission, was ordered to be closed or shifted production.
• The central government arranged an investment loan of 250 million yuan to support 28 key pollution control projects .With the support of the central government and joint efforts of the governments at all levels in the river basin ,the problems of drinking water supply in heavily polluted areas were being gradually solved . By the end of 1996 ,the drinking water supply to 1.672 million people had been secured .
• Improvement of the legal system for protection of marine resources and the environment, and establishment of a comprehensive management system.
• Research on key technology of coastal resources utilization and environment, project and establishment of demonstration on coastal development.
• In 1997, the treatment rate of industrial wastewater was 78.9%. For enterprises at the county-level and above, the treatment rate was 84.7%. The compliance rate to standards for discharge was 54.4%,in which, the compliance rate for the industries at county-level and above was 61.8%. The treatment of industrial wastewater was enhanced in 1997. During the implementation of China's Trans-century Green Project Plan, 99 projects for water pollution treatment were completed and 325 projects for water pollution prevention and treatment are under construction.