China Water Pollution - Research Paper Example

CHINA WATER POLLUTION Introduction In the last few decades, China has changed from an agricultural dependent economy to a country that manufactures many products that are then exported all over the world, but at a high cost. The widespread dumping of industrial wastes and toxic substances has affected rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Today, China is facing a significant water crisis because its per capita water supply is lower compared to the global average.1 On the other hand, China’s demand for water is enormous; both factories and agriculture use much water. Rough estimates show that, one-third of the industrial wastes and more than 90% of the household sewage in China is dumped into sources of water before undergoing any treatment. Almost 80% of Chinas major towns lack sewage treatment facilities. Water scarcity and pollution are serious problems in China such that the World Bank has warned of catastrophic effects for the coming generations. More than 50% of China’s population cannot access safe water while two-thirds of the rural population uses contaminated water.2 Water used by people for domestic purposes in China contains hazardous amounts of arsenic, sulfates and fluorine. More than 950 million Chinese drink water each day that has been polluted in one way or the other. A majority of the affected people drink water that has been contaminated with human or animal wastes. The other people drink well water that has been polluted with high levels of radiation. 3 The study will attempt to answer the following research questions: i. What are the causes of water pollution in China? ii. What are the effects of water pollution in China? iii. What are the efforts to combat water pollution in China? The purpose of the research is to identify the causes of water pollution and to determine the best way to stop water pollution before they become a disaster in China. Geographical elements and traditions of China China ranks number three after Russia and Canada in terms of land mass, with an area of 9.6 million square kilometers. It has many mountains that cover almost 65% of its total land area. The population of Chinese surpasses 1.35 billion people. The Yangzi River is the longest river in China, and its waters irrigate the rice-growing areas of the country. About 25% of the Chinese practice Taoism and Confucianism whereas a small number are Muslims and Christians. Mandarin is the primary language used by the Chinese people. Rice is the major food eaten by the Chinese.4 Literature review A research by the Environmental Protection Agency of China in 2010 argued that the level of water pollution was twice what was envisaged since agricultural waste had been left out. The first pollution census of the country in 2010 disclosed farm fertilizer was the largest source of water pollution than factory waste matter. In 2011, the Chinese government said that 43% of rivers supervised by the state were so polluted and unbefitting for human.5 Another study revealed that 8 out of every 10 Chinese coastal cities release too much of sewage and pollutants into the sea. The pollution of water is worse along the coast where manufacturing takes place.6 Despite the closure of many chemical factories, paper mills, breweries, and other sources of pollution, the water quality in that area mostly falls below the standards required by the government. The Yangtze River boasts as a famous water source, but today it is infamous because of pollution that is characterized by it. Yellow River, an exceptionally critical water source for the Chinese has been badly over-exploited. Some parts of the Yellow River have run dry, its water polluted while underground aquifers have been affected.7 Industrial pollution has been the main threat to the Pearl River that passes through Guangdong province. The province as been for a long time been the face of China’s factories. It is estimated that industrial waste contributes over 50% of all water directed into the river. Numerous petrochemical plants have been established along the Yangtze and Yellow rivers; many of the factories freely deposit wastes into the rivers.8 Methods of analysis The research uses the exploratory method of analysis to resolve the research questions. The exploratory model is used for discovering new connections and may not be used for generalizing or predicting the future. The research has used books, journals, and internet sources to come up with the findings. Findings Ministry of Land and Resources of the South Asian country estimates that at least 60% of the country’s water resources have poor quality.9 The poor quality of the underground water implies that it cannot be used for drinking directly since it will cause harm to human beings. The Chinese government has been putting efforts to address the issue of water pollution. The government introduced several policies aimed at curbing the problem of pollution, such as investing in non-polluting projects and empowering the judiciary to impose stiff penalties. 10 In China, the total wastewater released rose by 65% in the period between 2000 and 2012. The wastewater discharged is expected to increase with urbanization and the growing prosperity of the Asian country. The graph below shows the trend in domestic wastewater discharge that shows the increase in the urbanization between 2000 and 2012.11 Figure 1: Wastewater discharge in China (2000-2012) The main polluters of Chinese water are chemical factories, drug and fertilizer producers, and paper factories. The contaminants that cause pollution in water are chemicals, pathogens, and changes in temperature. Although the substances may occur naturally, their concentration will determine what a contaminant is. A high concentration of substances that occur naturally can have adverse effects on flora and fauna.12 Water contamination has caused a significant number of cases of stomach, liver, and esophageal cancer in China. In 2013, the Chinese government admitted the reality of rural “cancer villages” that exist along areas with wells polluted by industry and agriculture wastes.13 A majority of the cancer victims are young people, and many of them have uncommon cancers of the rectum, esophagus, stomach, and liver. The death rate among the victims is very high since the majority of the victims cannot afford treatment fees. Although industrial pollution may not be confirmed as the cause of the diseases, there has been a close connection between the positions of the villages, factories, and contaminated rivers.14 The following maps show the level of water pollution in China’s main rivers: Figure 2: Polluted Rivers and their level of pollution Figure 3: Categories of pollution in China’s rivers Water contamination from industrial waste is the primary cause of cancer villages. There are a close link major rivers and cancer counties; cancer villages cluster along the major rivers and their tributaries. The majority of cancer villages are positioned along the Yellow, Changjiang River, and Pearl Rivers. The table below shows the concentrations of cancer villages along the major rivers.15 Figure 3: Rivers and counties with the concentration of cancer villages (2009) China has planned to close different enterprises in areas such as oil refineries and pesticide manufacturers so as to make clean its water supply. The aim of the clean up is to develop the quality of water considerably. The government aims to make sure that at least 70% of the water quality of main river basins reaches the level they are deemed well enough for drinking. The government’s effort will make more than 90% of the water supply for the country’s major towns to arrive at the same quality level.16 Besides closing polluting industries, the Chinese government plans to increase wastewater processing and promote better methods of conserving water.17 The Environmental Protection Law was enacted earlier this year, and it will deal with the problem of water, air, and soil pollution. The law will allow the authorities to have additional powers of enforcement as they will have the ability to larger fines on polluters. In addition, legally registered non-governmental organizations can initiate litigation in the interest of the public. The new China’s legal framework will assist in reducing pollution since individuals and enterprises will be held accountable for any water pollution associated with them.18 Conclusion Dealing with water pollution is a big challenge to the Chinese authorities. The main causes of water pollution in China are factory wastes that are dumped into rivers without treatment. Water pollution has had an adverse effect on the Chinese people since many of them have ended up having cancer and other dangerous diseases. In order to combat water pollution, the Chinese authorities have enacted a new law that will deal with water polluters. The study will be of help to environmentalists who are looking for ways to stop water pollution. Bibliography Bao, Lian-Jun, Keith A. Maruya, Shane A. Snyder, and Eddy Y. Zeng. "Chinas water pollution by persistent organic pollutants." Environmental Pollution 163 (2012): 100-108. Hays, Jeffrey. 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