From The Wall Street Journal:
China’s water pollution and its shortage of clean water are hindering the country’s economic development as rapid urbanization overwhelms the system, a top official warned.
“Generally speaking, the situation is deteriorating,” Qiu Baoxing, vice minister of construction, said yesterday in Beijing. The problems are worsening despite a strong push by the central government and a pledge to spend one trillion yuan, or about $125 billion, to clean up the water supply.
China’s urbanization is straining water resources. “We’re adding about the equivalent of a New York each year,” Mr. Qiu said, noting that 13 million to 15 million people move into urban areas annually. “During this stage, China will suffer from the most severe water pollution,” he said. “This stage is a critical point.”[Full Text and Subscribors Only]
Also see China’s Urban Water Supply Threatened by Pollution, Poor Management from VOA news.
