Keeping water clean

The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress adopted the amended law on prevention of water pollution, on Thursday, less than a week before the opening of the 11th NPC next week.

The ending of a NPC five-year-term and the start of action to better protect our water resources from being polluted is of particular importance to both the next NPC and governments at all levels.

Repeated water pollution incidents last year sounded an alarm about the seriousness of water contamination that is ongoing. Figures released by the State Administration of Environmental Protection shows 50 percent of underground water in cities has been seriously polluted and most of the ground water has been contaminated. Also, many waterways or lakes are so polluted their ecological function can hardly be revived.