Pollution, Industry Threaten Water Quality in Chinese Cities

污染与工业威胁中国城市水质

China's vice minister of construction Qiu Baoxing says pollution and industrial mismanagement are threatening the quality of the country's urban water supplies. Qiu Baoxing blames deteriorating water quality on inadequate controls over pollution from household, industrial and agricultural users. The government says 278 Chinese cities lack waste-water treatment facilities, and many existing plants are operating below capacity or not running at all.

Qiu said Tuesday that the government plans to spend 125 billion dollars over the next five years to replace or renovate pipelines, waste-water and garbage treatment facilities.

中国建设部副部长仇保兴表示，污染和错误的工业管理正在威胁中国城市地区自来水供应的质量。仇保兴将城市地区自来水品质恶化的原因归咎于未能有效控制来自家庭、工业和农业所造成的污染。中国政府表示，278个中国城市缺乏污水处理设备，许多现有的处理设施不是未全面运转就是根本不运转。

仇保兴星期二表示，中国政府计划在未来5年花费1250亿美元，更换或整修水管以及污水和垃圾处理设备。