Kiera Jefferson
The Yellow River, also known as the Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest river system on Earth. It is considered the cradle of Chinese civilisation and culture, with the Yellow River basin serving as the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilisation. The river is heavily polluted, with a 2008 report stating that two-thirds of the river is contaminated by industrial waste and is unsafe for drinking, agriculture, or industrial use. The middle reaches of the river are particularly affected by pollution, with dense cities with large populations contributing to high levels of sewage discharge. The Jindi River tributary was identified as the most polluted, with high levels of pathogenic microorganisms and poor water quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| River length | 5,464 km (3,395 mi) |
| Watershed | 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi) |
| Origin | Bayan Har Mountains |
| Flow | Eastwards |
| Ordos Loop length | 1,500 km (930 mi) |
| Estuary location | Bohai Sea |
| Pollution sources | Industrial, agricultural, and domestic sewage, industrial waste gas, factory discharges, sewage from expanding cities, chemical plants, petrochemical factories |
| Pollution level in 2007 | 33.8% of the river system registered worse than "level five" according to the criteria used by the UN Environment Program |
| Level five description | Unfit for drinking, aquaculture, industrial use, or agriculture |
| 2006 pollution incident | A one-kilometer section of the river turned red due to a "red and smelly" discharge from a sewage pipe in Lanzhou, Gansu Province |
| Tributaries pollution | The water quality gradually deteriorates from upstream to downstream, with the Jindi River being the most polluted |
| Environmental laws | Specific laws tackling water pollution came into force in 2013 and 2015 |
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What You'll Learn
- The middle reaches of the river are dried up due to over-development
- The lower reaches and estuary are home to chemical plants dumping untreated effluent
- The Jindi River tributary has the most pathogenic microorganisms
- The Tengger Desert section of the river has sludge pits covered by sand
- The Hai-Huaih basin is chronically polluted, with red wastewater from chemical plants
The middle reaches of the river are dried up due to over-development
The Yellow River, the second-longest river in China and sixth-longest river system on Earth, has been suffering from severe pollution and degradation. One-third of the river is unusable even for agricultural or industrial purposes due to factory waste and sewage from expanding cities. The middle reaches of the river, specifically, face significant challenges due to over-development and pollution.
The middle reaches of the Yellow River, stretching for about 749 miles (1,206 km) from Hekou in Togtoh County, Inner Mongolia, to Zhengzhou, Henan, are characterised by a slow descent through canyons. This section of the river contributes 92% of its silts, making the Yellow River the most sediment-laden river globally. The large amount of mud and sand discharged into the river gives it its distinctive yellow colour.
However, the middle reaches have been facing increasing pressures due to over-development and human activities. The regions along the middle course of the river have experienced rapid economic development, with dense cities and large populations. This development has led to increased water intake and sewage discharge, impacting the river's water flow and quality. The average rate of water flow in the Yellow River has decreased annually, reaching its lowest level in 2016 and 2017.
Additionally, agricultural practices have contributed to the drying up of the middle reaches. Irrigation has been a significant factor, as water from the river is diverted to irrigate crops, meeting the demands of agriculture in the dry regions of northern China. This diversion has resulted in the river running dry before reaching the sea since 1972. The demand for irrigation water is highest between March and June, further straining the river during those months.
The combination of over-development, industrial pollution, and agricultural needs has led to the degradation and drying up of the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Implementing specific policies and pollution control methods for the tributaries that feed into the middle reaches may help alleviate some of the pressures on this vital waterway.
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The lower reaches and estuary are home to chemical plants dumping untreated effluent
The Yellow River, also known as the Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest river system on Earth. It is approximately 5,500 kilometres long and runs from west to east across China's northern provinces. The river is considered the ""mother river"" by many Chinese people as its alluvial plains nurtured the Huaxia tribes, from which Han Chinese people trace their ancestry.
The lower reaches and estuary of the Yellow River are dotted with chemical plants that dump untreated, polluted effluent directly into the water. The river's water quality has been gradually deteriorating due to various pollutants, including industrial effluence, domestic sewage, and human activities. The discharge of wastewater into the river has increased significantly over the years, with industry and manufacturing contributing the most to the pollution.
Dongying's expansive wetlands, located in the estuary, are now home to numerous chemical plants. The area is often enveloped by a foul smell, noticeable from several kilometres away. While there have been efforts to improve the situation, with journalists and the government taking action, it serves as an example of the challenges faced in restoring the health of the Yellow River.
The formation of new land through silt deposition has also attracted oil drilling operations to the area. The presence of the Shengli oil field, actively exploited since the 1960s, has drawn many chemical companies to the region. As a result, the nearby nature reserve has shrunk to make room for these industrial developments. The pollution and habitat loss have had a significant impact on the local wildlife, causing migratory birds to alter their routes and avoid the wetlands and estuary.
The lower reaches and estuary of the Yellow River bear the brunt of industrial pollution, with chemical plants contributing significantly to the degradation of water quality. While there have been some positive changes, the long-term recovery of the affected areas remains a challenging and ongoing process.
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The Jindi River tributary has the most pathogenic microorganisms
The Yellow River, also known as the Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest river system on Earth. It is approximately 5,464 km (3,395 mi) long and has a watershed of about 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi). The river is named after the yellow colour of its water, which is caused by the large amount of sediment discharged as it flows through the Loess Plateau.
The river's water quality has been degrading over the years due to various factors, including industrial and agricultural activities, domestic sewage, and waste gas. The middle and lower reaches of the river are particularly affected, with only 29.2% of the trunk stream and its main tributaries meeting the standards for domestic water use in 1998. By 2013, the situation had worsened, with 78.1% of the trunk stream exceeding national standards.
Among the ten tributaries in the middle and lower reaches, the Jindi River tributary stands out as the most polluted. Analysis of bacterial community structure revealed that the Jindi River had the highest species diversity and richness of bacteria. Notably, it had a much higher number of pathogenic microorganisms compared to other areas. The bacterial functional genes of related metabolic pathways were also significantly enriched in this tributary.
The poor water quality of the Jindi River is evident through the excess of several pollutants, including TP, TN, BOD5, COD, TOC, and coliform bacteria, which exceeded national criteria by significant margins. The high levels of these pollutants indicate the urgent need for specific policies and pollution control methods to address the issues affecting the Jindi River tributary.
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The Tengger Desert section of the river has sludge pits covered by sand
The Yellow River, the second-longest river in China, is facing severe pollution issues. One-third of the river is deemed unfit for drinking, agriculture, or industrial use due to factory waste and sewage. The pollution is particularly concentrated in the midstream, with high levels of ammonia nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and permanganate index.
The Tengger Desert section of the Yellow River has been a focal point for environmental concerns. In 2011, a local herder revealed that 32 chemical companies were dumping effluent directly onto the desert sands, with little to no water treatment in place. These companies relied on evaporation to dispose of the water, leaving behind toxic sludge that was then transported elsewhere. This sludge was often dumped into pits and covered with sand. However, when the sand blew away, the sludge was exposed, releasing foul odours that caused illness among visitors to the area in 2016.
The pollution in the Tengger Desert gained widespread attention in China after a news report by Beijing News in 2014. Subsequently, 24 local officials were punished, and the offending companies were forced to halt operations until changes were implemented. Despite these efforts, when activists returned in 2017, they found that the sludge pits had been covered with sand again, with some vegetation growing nearby. This vegetation was identified as artificially planted desert artemisia.
The Tengger Desert plays a crucial role in the sediment sources for the Yellow River Basin. Studies have shown that the Ordos Plateau, influenced by the Yellow and Wei rivers, contributes significantly to the development of red clay deposits in the region. The East Asian winter monsoon transports detrital materials, which accumulate on the Ordos Plateau, forming the distinctive red clay landscape.
The Yellow River Basin, including the Tengger Desert, is a key site for ecological protection and high-quality development. The stability of the region has been impacted by the melting of permafrost and erosion of rivers originating in the Qilian Mountains. As human activities intensify, the climate-water-dust coupling process becomes increasingly influenced by human interference, deviating from natural processes.
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The Hai-Huaih basin is chronically polluted, with red wastewater from chemical plants
The Yellow River, the second-longest river in China, is heavily polluted. A 2007 survey by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission found that 33.8% of the river system registered worse than "level five" according to the UN Environment Program criteria. Level five water is unfit for drinking, aquaculture, industrial use, or agriculture. The report attributed 70% of the discharge into the river to industry and manufacturing, with households accounting for 23% and the remaining 6% coming from other sources.
The Yellow River basin was once the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization. However, its water quality has been gradually deteriorating due to various factors, including industrial effluence, domestic sewage, and human activities. The Jindi River, one of its tributaries, was found to be the most polluted, with a high number of pathogenic microorganisms and enriched bacterial functional genes.
The Hai-Huai basin, which includes the Huai River basin, is one of the seven major river basins in China and has been chronically polluted. The biggest polluters in the basin are industries such as paper, fertilizers, and food ingredients producers, whose wastewater outlets need to be capped, according to environmentalist Ma Jun. Breweries are also a significant source of pollution, contributing nearly one-fifth of the chemical oxygen demand in the river and its tributaries.
The pollution in the Hai-Huai basin has had severe impacts on the health and well-being of the people living nearby. Chinese state media has reported abnormally high cancer rates along the Huai River. The failure to address this issue has been attributed to an economic failure, as factories contribute to economic growth, while the losses suffered by those who depend on the river for their livelihood are not reflected in economic measurements.
Efforts to clean up the Hai-Huai basin have been largely unsuccessful. In 1994, the Chinese central government initiated a cleanup project, but a subsequent flood washed polluted water downstream, eroding public trust. In 1997, the Environmental Committee of the State Council declared that the first stage of pollution control targets had been achieved, with all 1,139 industries in the basin meeting pollution control standards. However, in 2004, China's State Environmental Protection Administration stated that 60% of the water in the Huai was unsuitable even for industrial use, and efforts to improve water quality have continued to fall short.
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Frequently asked questions
The Yellow River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It is heavily polluted after it reaches its first major city, Xining, and 33.8% of the river system is unfit for drinking, aquaculture, industrial use, or agriculture.
The river travels through major industrial areas, including China's major coal-producing region, and huge population centres. 70% of the discharge into the river comes from industry and manufacturing.
The pollution has made one-third of the river unusable even for agricultural or industrial use. In some areas along the river, there have been dramatic increases in cancer, birth defects, and waterborne diseases.
There have been some positive changes in recent years, with government intervention and the enforcement of environmental laws leading to a reduction in pollution from factories. Efforts are also being made to better manage water distribution and usage to keep the river flowing.
