Inspectors from China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection tested water samples from the country’s major rivers and lakes in the first half of the year and declared just 49.3 percent to be safe for drinking the ministry said in a notice posted on its website (www.mep.gov.cn).
China classifies its water supplies using six grades with the first three grades considered safe for drinking and bathing. Another 26.4 percent was said to be categories IV and V — fit only for use in industry and agriculture — leaving a total of 24.3 percent in category VI and unfit for any purpose.