92
4 River Basin Management
Table. 4.4 Surface water quality classification in China in 2016 (%) a
River basins National
Monitoring
transects
Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Over Class V
Liao River
106
1.9
31.1
12.3
22.6
17.0
15.1
Songhua
River
108
0
13.9
46.3
29.6
3.7
6.5
Hai River
161
1.9
19.3
16.1
13.0
8.7
41.0
Yellow River 137
2.2
32.1
24.8
20.4
6.6
13.9
Huai River
180
0
7.2
46.1
23.9
15.6
7.2
Yangtze
River
510
2.7
53.5
26.1
9.6
4.5
3.5
Pearl River
165
2.4
62.4
24.8
4.8
1.8
3.6
Rivers in
Zhejiang and
Fujian
Provinces a
125
3.2
53.6
37.6
3.2
2.4
0
Southwest
Rivers
63
1.6
79.4
9.5
7.9
1.6
0
Northwest
Rivers
62
4.8
75.8
12.9
4.8
1.6
0
China
1617
2.1
41.8
27.3
13.4
6.3
9.1
a The area almost equal to Southeast Rivers
Source MEP (2017) 2016 China Environmental Bulletin
Permission granted by MEP on its website subject to proper citation
Southern China river basins are challenged by flood control, multi-purpose uses, and
pollution.
At the same time, due to rapid economic development and delayed water pollution
prevention, worsening water quality has become a serious threat in China in the last
40 years. Table 4.4 summarizes the data on water quality in these river basins. The
poor water quality of the Yellow, Huai, and Hai River Basins reflects high rates
of urbanization and industrialization and the inadequate dilution capacity of these
regions. Water quality in the northern rivers, eutrophication and pollution of major
lakes and deteriorating groundwater quality in urban areas remain major risks in
China.
Therefore, river basins in China demonstrate a variety of water resources and
issues, not only due to geographical differences but also because of social and
economic development. On the one hand, these river basins are facing both traditional
and modern water issues, such as providing a greater water supply while maintaining
adequate ecological water flows, dealing with water quantity as well as quality. On
the other hand, these river basins vary significantly. In some less developed river
basins, water supply is short, but water quality is good. In developed river basins,
water resources are limited and have poor water quality. In Southern China, water
4 River Basin Management
Table. 4.4 Surface water quality classification in China in 2016 (%) a
River basins National
Monitoring
transects
Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Over Class V
Liao River
106
1.9
31.1
12.3
22.6
17.0
15.1
Songhua
River
108
0
13.9
46.3
29.6
3.7
6.5
Hai River
161
1.9
19.3
16.1
13.0
8.7
41.0
Yellow River 137
2.2
32.1
24.8
20.4
6.6
13.9
Huai River
180
0
7.2
46.1
23.9
15.6
7.2
Yangtze
River
510
2.7
53.5
26.1
9.6
4.5
3.5
Pearl River
165
2.4
62.4
24.8
4.8
1.8
3.6
Rivers in
Zhejiang and
Fujian
Provinces a
125
3.2
53.6
37.6
3.2
2.4
0
Southwest
Rivers
63
1.6
79.4
9.5
7.9
1.6
0
Northwest
Rivers
62
4.8
75.8
12.9
4.8
1.6
0
China
1617
2.1
41.8
27.3
13.4
6.3
9.1
a The area almost equal to Southeast Rivers
Source MEP (2017) 2016 China Environmental Bulletin
Permission granted by MEP on its website subject to proper citation
Southern China river basins are challenged by flood control, multi-purpose uses, and
pollution.
At the same time, due to rapid economic development and delayed water pollution
prevention, worsening water quality has become a serious threat in China in the last
40 years. Table 4.4 summarizes the data on water quality in these river basins. The
poor water quality of the Yellow, Huai, and Hai River Basins reflects high rates
of urbanization and industrialization and the inadequate dilution capacity of these
regions. Water quality in the northern rivers, eutrophication and pollution of major
lakes and deteriorating groundwater quality in urban areas remain major risks in
China.
Therefore, river basins in China demonstrate a variety of water resources and
issues, not only due to geographical differences but also because of social and
economic development. On the one hand, these river basins are facing both traditional
and modern water issues, such as providing a greater water supply while maintaining
adequate ecological water flows, dealing with water quantity as well as quality. On
the other hand, these river basins vary significantly. In some less developed river
basins, water supply is short, but water quality is good. In developed river basins,
water resources are limited and have poor water quality. In Southern China, water