(February 21, 2006) An official report concludes that much of the water in the Yangtze River is below national standards, unfit for drinking and even “seriously dangerous,” the South China Morning Post reports.

(August 31, 2002) An alert about industrial pollution threatening the Chinese city of Harbin has cast the spotlight on the huge challenge China faces improving its water system.

(April 11, 2002) Paper and chemical plants have long been cited as key sources of degradation of most of China’s waterways. In some areas, the problems have prompted riots by residents outraged by chronic health problems and the destruction of their fields and fish farms.

(January 7, 2002) SEPA says it has received 45 accident reports, mostly water pollution, since last November when an explosion in a chemical plant on the Songhua River killed five people.

(November 7, 2001) ‘China will take into account environmental quality in evaluating work of regional officials, a measure deemed important to curb reckless pursuit of GDP growth at the cost of the environment,’ Xinhua says.

(February 15, 2001) China is heading for a water pollution crisis as a booming economy raises industrial discharges and the number of incidents of toxic chemicals being spilled into rivers rises, a top environmental regulator said Thursday.

(February 1, 2001) The legislature of southern Guangdong Province, an economic engine of China, is creating a law to protect its supply of drinking water.