Inspections find urban water pollution issues

Inspections have found that the number of "black and odorous" water bodies in a national list was understated, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said Thursday.

The inspections, conducted jointly by the MEE and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in 70 Chinese cities, found that 274 black and odorous water bodies were not included in a national list on such issues, according to Zhang Bo, an official with the MEE.

The 70 cities reported a combined 1,127 black and odorous water bodies, 993 of which were said to have been treated. Inspections found pollution issues in 919 of those reported were resolved.

Zhang said the MEE would urge local authorities to rectify any pollution issues.

China had originally set a target to basically eliminate black and odorous water in major cities by the end of last year, according to a national action plan.

The government has passed its toughest-ever environmental protection law and introduced a "river chief" system to protect water resources. Ecological "red lines" will also be drawn in certain regions to strengthen environmental protection, according to an earlier plan.