The main problems existing at present

1.water environment governance

In some places, the mode of development is extensive, and environmental infrastructure such as urban built-up areas, industrial parks and ports and docks are in debt.

In some places, the number of the sewage outlets are unclear, the management is not standardized, and illegal sewage discharge occurs from time to time.

Nitrogen and phosphorus have become major pollutants in some places, and the bottleneck of preventing and controlling urban and rural non-point source pollution needs to be broken.

2.water ecological destruction

The aquatic vegetation in some rivers and lakes and their buffer zones has degraded and the aquatic ecosystem is seriously unbalanced.

In some places, the over-exploitation of water resources has made it difficult to guarantee ecological water, and the phenomenon of rivers and lakes being cut off and dried up is common.

3.water environment risks

In some places, industrial enterprises with high environmental risks are densely distributed and intertwined with drinking water sources, resulting in many environmental emergencies caused by industrial accidents.

In some places the sediment pollution of rivers and lakes is heavy, and there are environmental risks.

Cyanobacteria blooms, which is difficult to control and has raised social concern, are taking place in Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake, Dianchi Lake and other key lakes.

Priorities for 2021

1.Consolidate and deepen the achievements in the battle to protect clean water.

Consolidate and improve efforts to control black and odorous water bodies in cities at the prefectural level and above, carry out research on the treatment of black and odorous water bodies in county-level cities and the built-up areas of county seats, and publish and implement the action plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan to combat black and odorous water pollution.

Accelerate efforts to improve, upgrade, or replace substandard water sources, and continue to fight the battle of water source protection.

Consolidate and deepen special work such as treatment of the substandard sectionⅤ, comprehensive improvement of industrial parks, pollution control from the phosphorus industries, and inspection and rectification of sewage outlets. Also, intensify efforts to protect the ecological environment in key river basins such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

2.Promote the green development of key industries and regions.

Conduct investigations and studies on the development patterns and production processes of key industries and regions, guide local governments in coordinating water environment, water ecology, and water resources, formulate precise and scientific requirements for differentiated management and control, set appropriate transitional periods, implement management and control in stages in accordance with the law, and guide and promote high-quality development with high-level protection.

3.Plan to promote the 14th Five-Year Plan water ecological environment protection.

Anchor the long-term objective of building a beautiful China by 2035, coordinate factors such as water resources, water ecology and water environment, and formulate and implement the 14^th Five-Year Plan for water ecological and environmental protection in key river basins.

Organize the compilation of technical guidance documents on water purification of constructed wetlands, ecological protection and restoration of rivers and lakes, and guide local governments to further protect and build beautiful rivers and lakes.

Collect excellent cases of beautiful rivers and lakes, and publicize advanced experience.

4.Encourage and guide local governments where conditions permit to carry out pilot projects in advance and strive to achieve breakthroughs in key areas and links of water ecological and environmental protection.

Carry out pilot flux monitoring, clarify the responsibilities of non-point source pollution in administrative areas, and explore the establishment of an environmental management system for non-point source pollution prevention and control.

Carry out pilot projects to prevent and control pollution from large-scale farming and breeding industry and explore ways to establish an environmental management system that suits the characteristics of the industry.

Carry out pilot projects to restore aquatic vegetation in the open waters and explore ways of working and living in harmony between man and water, as well as a corresponding environmental management system.

To guide local governments where conditions permit to build constructed wetland water purification projects in accordance with local conditions at key points of river basins such as the downstream of major sewage outlets and rivers entering lakes, and coordinate efforts to promote the recycling of regional reclaimed water.

5.Modernize the system and capacity for water ecological and environmental governance.

Promote the publication of a top-level design document for the reform of supervision and management of pollutant discharge outlets, and establish a sound pollution source management system.

In collaboration with relevant departments, establish a list of important national water bodies, and promote the establishment of a watershed ecological environment spatial management system and administrative district responsibility management system at five levels, including the whole country, river basins, water function zones, control units and administrative districts.

Improve the working mechanism for finding and promoting solutions to problems by combining analysis, reporting, independent investigation and follow-up supervision.

Adhere to the problem – oriented, actively and steadily improve the surface water environmental quality assessment methods.

Source: Department of Water Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment.