Water quality ‘worrying’, air pollution ‘serious’, says environmental protection official
During a press conference ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, China’s vice minister of environmental protection Li Ganjie said that although there has been an overall improvement in China, current water quality remains "worrying" and air pollution in cities is still "serious."
Terms:
Environmental quality standards for surface water
Class I is mainly applicable to the water from sources, and the national nature reserves.
Class II is mainly applicable to first class of protected areas for centralized sources of drinking water, the protected areas for rare fishes, and the spawning fields of fishes and shrimps.
Class III is mainly applicable to second class of protected areas for centralized sources of drinking water, protected areas for the common fishes and swimming areas.
Class IV is mainly applicable to the water areas for industrial use and entertainment which is not directly touched by human bodies.
Class V is mainly applicable to the water bodies for agricultural use and landscape requirement.
Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection
Sea water quality standards
Grade I: Fishing waters, nature reserves, marine life reserves
Grade II: Aquaculture zones, bathing beaches, recreational use, industrially produced products safe for human consumption
Grade III: Industrial use, coastal resorts
Grade IV: Ports, marine development zones
Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection, translated by Globaltimes.cn
Web editor: guwei@globaltimes.com.cn