Water Pollution

Water Pollution in China

One of China’s most critical environmental problems is water pollution; 320 million people lack access to clean drinking water; over 70 percent of lakes and rivers are polluted; and major pollution incidents happen on a near daily basis.

Water pollution not only strains the environment, but also severely impacts public health. Today, China has a growing cancer rate, with hundreds of “cancer villages” near polluted water sources. The World Health Organization recently estimated that nearly 100,000 people die annually from water pollution-related illnesses in China, and 75 percent of disease comes from water quality-related issues.

Working with partners across China, Pacific Environment is reaching out to local communities concerned about water pollution and helping these communities conduct legal, public relations and advocacy campaigns to reduce the impacts of water pollution on public health and the local environment. Through these actions, our partners are playing a pivotal role to ensure clean water for China’s future.

Click here to learn more about our Water work in China.