China's government said its water is far more polluted and its industry is producing far more waste than previously realized, according to a major study.
China's first official nationwide census of pollution sources, issued Feb. 8, found that the pollution discharged into the water totaled 30.3 metric tons in 2007--more than double the 13.8 metric tons reported for that year in a report from 2 year ago, where the government claimed water pollution had declined 3 percent.
Zhang Lijun, vice minister for environmental protection, said the huge increase reflected the census' more accurate measurements, which now include wastewater. The numbers reflect the need for China to clean up its waterways: The country estimates its water has the natural ability to safely absorb about 7 million tons annually.
The data also reports that China is producing far more industrial waste than previously reported. Industrial solid waste totaled 49.14 million tons in 2007--more than triple the earlier figures from the same year.
Read more about China's pollution in an article from the Wall Street Journal.
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