China's Rivers: Polluted Or Pristine?

China is facing an environmental crisis due to its polluted rivers. The water in China is as dangerous as the air, with nearly half the country missing its five-year water quality targets. The Yangtze River, the third-longest river in the world, is perhaps the most polluted river globally, threatening the lives of over 400 million people. China's rapid industrialization has led to the deterioration of its river arteries, with wastewater, agricultural pesticides, and industrial sewage being dumped into rivers. This has resulted in unsafe drinking water for half of China's population, leading to high rates of cancer and death. While the Chinese government has implemented measures to curb river pollution, the situation remains critical, requiring continued efforts from organizations to protect the environment and the health of its citizens.

Water pollution's impact on human health

China is facing an environmental crisis due to the rampant deterioration of its river arteries. The country's rapid industrialization has led to an unprecedented transformation of the environment, with river fragmentation and pollution threatening thousands of species. This includes the Yangtze alligator, whose habitats have drastically decreased over the last four decades.

Water pollution has severe impacts on human health, causing a range of diseases and health issues. Here are some of the ways water pollution affects human health:

• Drinking water contamination: Water pollution leads to the contamination of drinking water sources, causing health issues such as gastrointestinal infections, dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and congenital disabilities.
• Toxic chemical exposure: Excessive exposure to toxins and toxic chemicals like pesticides, mercury, lead, and cadmium can result in serious health issues, including cancer, neurological problems, and congenital disabilities.
• Skin issues: Regular contact with contaminated water can cause skin rashes, irritation, itching, and allergic reactions.
• Respiratory issues: Polluted water can aggravate and trigger severe respiratory problems like bronchitis and asthma.
• Reproductive health issues: Polluted water has been linked to various reproductive health problems, including congenital disabilities, reduced sperm count, and infertility.
• Cardiovascular issues: Consuming water contaminated with heavy metals can lead to cardiovascular health issues such as heart problems and stroke.
• Mental health issues: Prolonged exposure to polluted water can negatively impact mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and an increased risk of mental disorders.

To address water pollution in China, the government has implemented various measures, including the 2015 Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution. However, nearly half of the country missed its five-year water quality targets, indicating that more efforts are needed to protect human health and the environment.

Agricultural waste and chemical fertilizers

The excessive utilization of commercial inorganic fertilizers to boost crop yields has become a significant issue in China. The absorption rate of chemical fertilizers by plants is relatively low, generally about 30 to 40%. The fertilizer that is not absorbed flows into surrounding water bodies through precipitation (such as rainfall and snowfall) and underground infiltration, impacting river and lake water quality. This type of pollution is known as non-point source pollution, as it cannot be traced back to a single source like factory pollution.

Non-point source pollution from agricultural activities, including fertilizer runoff, has led to high nutrient levels in China's rivers, resulting in mats of thick algae. In the Yangtze River Economic Belt, for example, excess N discharge to groundwater and surface water has shown a substantial increase since 1978, despite a recent decline due to pollution control measures. The implementation of different measures, such as fertilizer reduction patterns, has been effective in reducing N emissions.

In addition to chemical fertilizers, plastic pollution from agriculture also contributes to river pollution in China. Agricultural plastic films, used for mulching and greenhouses, account for 20% of plastics in Chinese rivers. While the Chinese government has promulgated policies for plastic pollution reduction, the focus has been more on urban areas than on agriculture.

The Chinese government has recognized the impact of improper farming practices on the environment and has introduced measures to improve the efficiency of pesticide and fertilizer use. Local authorities and businesses are also being incentivized to implement environmental programs, such as subsidizing biogas equipment in pig farms, promoting more natural alternatives to synthetic fertilizers.

Industrial wastewater and poor regulations

China's rivers have been profoundly impacted by the country's rapid industrialisation and economic development, resulting in severe water pollution. Industrial wastewater is a significant contributor to this issue, with inadequate regulations and enforcement exacerbating the problem.

The discharge of untreated industrial wastewater has led to the contamination of China's rivers with toxic substances. This includes pollutants from paper mills, petrochemical factories, metallurgical plants, and steel mills. These industrial activities release chemicals such as ammonia, cyanide, arsenic, and nitrogen-containing compounds, which pose a severe threat to the environment and human health.

The Hai River basin, for example, has been identified as the most polluted among China's seven major river basins. It suffers from limited water volume and poor self-purification capabilities, coupled with large discharges of untreated industrial wastewater. Recurrent industrial water pollution incidents further aggravate the situation. Similarly, the Liao River basin faces pollution from oxygen-consuming organic pollutants in municipal domestic sewage and industrial wastewater, with insufficient regulatory capacity to curb excessive discharge.

China has recognised the urgency of addressing water pollution and has taken steps towards improvement. The Ministry of Environment has ordered provinces to meet their water quality targets, and the government has proposed plans such as the Total Amount of Pollutants Control Plan to tackle specific pollutants. However, the nationwide standards for sewage treatment are insufficient, and there is a lack of incentive for industries to take responsibility for their waste.

To effectively combat industrial wastewater pollution, China needs to enforce stricter regulations, increase investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure, and ensure proper enforcement of dumping laws with penalties for violating companies. Improving water-use efficiency in agriculture and upgrading domestic wastewater pipe networks can also help reduce nutrient leaching and runoff into water bodies. By addressing these issues, China can work towards achieving sustainable development goals and ensuring access to safe drinking water for its citizens.

Shipping waste and dangerous goods

China's rivers are heavily polluted, with 85% of water in major rivers being undrinkable in 2015. This is due to a variety of factors, including industrial waste, agricultural practices, and shipping waste.

In addition to NOx emissions, ships also contribute to sulfur pollution in China's rivers. The Ministry of Transport has designated a coastal domestic emission control area (DECA) that extends 12 nautical miles off China's coastline. Ships operating within this area must use fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.5%. This regulation came into effect on January 1, 2019, and is a significant step in reducing sulfur pollution from ships.

Furthermore, China has also established emission standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and requirements for the installation and use of onshore power for all China-flagged new-build or rebuilt ships. These regulations demonstrate China's commitment to reducing shipping pollution and its contribution to the global effort to advance the use of clean fuels and technologies in the shipping industry.

To further reduce shipping pollution, the Yangtze River Protection Law of the People's Republic of China includes provisions for the control and prevention of groundwater pollution from hazardous waste disposal sites, chemical industry parks, and other sources. The law also integrates pollution liability insurance and financial guarantees for vessels carrying dangerous goods in the Yangtze River basin. These measures aim to minimize the risk of accidents and pollution incidents involving dangerous goods during transportation.

Water treatment and environmental policies

China's water supply and sanitation are undergoing a massive transition while facing challenges such as rapid urbanisation, economic inequality, and water scarcity. The country is also facing a serious water crisis due to over-exploitation, inefficient utilisation of water resources, deteriorating water quality, and hydro-morphological degradation. These issues pose a significant threat to human survival and sustainable development.

To address these challenges, China has implemented various measures and policies to reduce pollution and improve water quality. For instance, the "three red lines" policy introduced a requirement for 95% of tested water to meet national water quality guidelines, covering a wide range of organic and microbial pollutants, as well as heavy metal concentrations. The government also announced a 380 billion RMB investment plan over five years to improve urban wastewater treatment facilities and establish monitoring stations to continuously track water quality.

The "Three Lines One Permit" (TLOP) water-environment policy was formulated to integrate zoning policies and regulations. This framework includes goals for water quality, upper limits on water resource utilisation, and a permit list. The territories of Jinan were divided into 158 water-environment control units (WECUs) and classified into protected zones, pollution-control zones, and ordinary zones.

China has also increased investments in the water sector, quadrupling them during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). The government has set targets for improving wastewater treatment rates, achieving 77.5% treatment of domestic wastewater by 2010. Additionally, the country has introduced sewer tariffs and increased water tariffs, particularly in the north, where water scarcity is more prominent.

However, challenges remain. Greenpeace research reveals that nearly half of China's provinces missed their five-year water quality targets. There is a need for better inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency coordination, cooperation, and communication to effectively implement policies. The Party's cadre evaluation system should be reformed to emphasise environmental and water resource management, and local governments should receive more resources to monitor water pollution and enforce penalties for dumping violations.

Overall, China is making significant efforts to improve water treatment and environmental policies, but further reforms and institutional changes are needed to address water scarcity and quality issues effectively.

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