March 22nd is World Water Day, “a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.” With that in mind, lets examine some statistics about water in China.
320 million
the number of people in China without access to clean drinking water
40
the percentage of China’s surface water that is considered polluted
20
the percentage of drinking water in urban areas that is contaminated
10,570
the number of pigs pulled out of the Huangpu river according to official reports
14,600+
the number of pigs pulled out of the Huangpu river according to independent media reports
278
the number of Chinese cities without sewage treatment facilities
200,000 yuan
the amount offered to a Zhejiang official to swim in one of the province’s rivers (he didn’t)
43
the percentage of Chinese rivers that are unsuitable for human contact
217 billion yuan
the estimated cost of water pollution to China’s economy every year
[Sources: Greenpeace, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Shanghai Daily, SCMP, Facts and Details]
