China Policy Journal Volume 1, Number 1, Fall 2018 | Page 19

China Policy Journal
Figure 3. Wastewater discharge in China
(Source: China Statistical Year Book)
Figure 4. COD and ammoniacal nitrogen discharges in China
(Source: China Statistical Year Book)
controlling pollution before the policy
reform. The most contaminated rivers
boost to occupy a large amount of all
seven river systems at that time, but they
were identified and their water quality
was largely improved since 2003. The
number of rivers with good water quality
experienced sharp increases twice before
2014, during which time the rivers
with the worst water quality (levels IV–
V) were controlled to achieve a decrease
in contamination. The amount of river
waters with the lowest quality levels still
amounts to 30% of all river waters.
Pollution control has been assessed
through water quality at both
the micro and macro scales, and can
also be interpreted from the perspective
of industry structure. Within the rigid
demand of economic development, the
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