Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan
China's central authorities attach great importance to water pollution prevention and control. In April 2015, the State Council released the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. The document prioritized water conservation and aimed to bring about a balanced spatial configuration with provisions for systematic treatment. It required to have science-based treatment of different rivers and lakes and different regions of the sea, establish a new market-driven mechanism with government guidance, actions by enterprises, and public participation in water pollution control, and advance systematic water pollution prevention and control, water ecosystem protection, and water resource conservation.
The document listed 10 measures:
•controlling the discharge of pollutants across the board;
•transforming and upgrading the economic structure;
•conserving and protecting water resources;
•providing stronger technological support;
•giving full play to the market;
•reinforcing environment-related law enforcement and supervision;
•strengthening management of the water environment;
•ensuring water ecosystem security;
•clarifying responsibilities of all parties involved; and
•encouraging public participation and scrutiny.
In recent years, relevant government departments have joined the campaign to keep China's waters clear, and overall changes have taken place in the water ecosystem. The proportion of surface water with a quality rating of Grade III or better rose from 66 percent in 2015 to 83.4 percent in 2020, while the proportion of surface water worse than Grade V fell from 9.7 percent to 0.6 percent, and 98.2 percent of the 2,914 black, malodorous water bodies in cities at or above prefecture level had been eliminated. As a result, more people now have access to safe drinking water.
During the 14th Five-year Plan period (2021-2025), China will continue to work on water ecosystem protection and restoration, so that there will be clear waters, fish and aquatic plants in the rivers, and harmony between humanity and water. It will turn from pollution control to holistic treatment of the water ecosystem, environment, and resources, thus laying a sound foundation for a beautiful China.
水污染防治行动计划
中共中央、国务院高度重视水污染防治工作。2015年4月，国务院印发《水污染防治行动计划》（简称“水十条”），以改善水环境质量为核心，按照“节水优先、空间均衡、系统治理、两手发力”的原则，贯彻“安全、清洁、健康”方针，对江河湖海实施分流域、分区域、分阶段科学治理，要求形成“政府统领、企业施治、市场驱动、公众参与”的水污染防治新机制，系统推进水污染防治、水生态保护和水资源管理。
《水污染防治行动计划》确定了十个方面的措施，即全面控制污染物排放；推动经济结构转型升级；着力节约保护水资源；强化科技支撑；充分发挥市场机制作用；严格环境执法监管；切实加强水环境管理；全力保障水生态环境安全；明确和落实各方责任；强化公众参与和社会监督。
近年来，全国各级各部门持续开展碧水保卫战，水生态环境发生历史性、转折性、全局性变化。到2020年，全国地表水优良水体比例由2015年的66%提高到83.4%，劣V类水体比例由2015年的9.7%下降到0.6%，地级及以上城市2914个黑臭水体消除比例达到98.2%，人民群众饮水安全建立了可靠保证。“十四五”时期，中国水生态环境保护工作将以“有河有水、有鱼有草、人水和谐”为工作目标，以水生态保护修复为核心，努力实现由污染治理为主向水生态、水环境、水资源等流域要素系统治理、统筹推进的转变，为建设美丽中国奠定基础。