Based on figures from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the underground water in 57 percent of monitored sites across Chinese cities was found to be polluted or extremely polluted, the Economic Information Daily reported.

The MEP statistics also suggest that 298 million rural residents do not have access to safe drinking water.

In the first half of last year, statistics showed that out of the seven main water systems in China, only the Yangtze and Pearl rivers had a good water quality, whereas the Haihe River was heavily polluted and the others all moderately polluted, according to the MEP.

The ministry has decided to step up the protection of water sources in several aspects. No construction projects will be allowed in water source regions unless they have marked off specific protection areas subjected to ministry monitoring, or have passed water quality examinations.

(China.org.cn May 30, 2012)

據《經濟參考報》報道，環保部數據表明，我國城市57%的地下水監測點位水質較差甚至極差。

同時，還有2.98億農村人口喝不上符合標準的飲用水。

2011年上半年，我國七大水系中長江、珠江水質狀況良好，海河為重度污染，其余河流均為中度或輕度污染。

環保部決定從多方面推進水源保護，對沒有完成保護區劃定工作、飲用水水源環保狀況不達標的地區，停批所有建設項目。