China to restore groundwater ecosystem functions by 2035

BEIJING — China will strive to generally restore the functions of its groundwater ecosystem with enhanced water quality by 2035 in an effort to curb water pollution.

The target will be achieved gradually, with the share of the groundwater with extremely poor quality among total groundwater reduced to about 15 percent by 2020, according to an implementation plan released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and four other ministries.

The country will establish a system for standards and rules related to the protection and treatment of groundwater pollution and a national monitoring mechanism by 2025.

A detailed plan will be released before the end of 2020 to outline key tasks and steps for groundwater pollution protection and treatment for the 2021-2025 period.

Pollution control is one of the country’s three critical battles in China’s bid to build a moderately prosperous society by 2020.