Overview

Over the last three decades, China has transformed from an impoverished farming-reliant country to the “Factory of the World,” but at what price? With high levels of air pollution and smog, most attention is turned to China’s air pollution issue but
60% of China’s underground water is ‘not fit for human contact' and is heavily polluted with toxic chemicals and industrial wastewater from factories and sewage.

By the numbers:

 Over 80% of water used by farms, factories and households in China originating from underground wells is unfit for drinking or bathing
The Yangtze is the 3rd longest river in the world and 370 miles of the 3,860-mile-long river, which accounts for 30% of China’s total freshwater resources, are in critical condition
Annual aquatic harvest is seriously affected: 400,000 tons in the 1950s to 100,000 tons in the 1990s
In 2010, 76% of the sewage generated in Guangdong province was directly discharged into local rivers
In 2011, more than 9.5 billion tons of raw sewage were directly discharged into local rivers including the Pearl River

Call to action:

Sign this petition to encourage major environmental organizations to help save China's freshwater resources! Also, get involved by finding volunteer programs to help you help China!