The upper reaches of the Huangpu River are the main source of Shanghai's water, accounting for some 70 per cent.

However, a recent report covered by the Shanghai-based Youth Daily said the whole Huangpu River was suffering from serious pollution. The story, citing a report from the Shanghai Environment Bureau, said the water quality of Dianshanhu Lake on the upper reaches of the Huangpu River was only at fourth to fifth, the worst standard possible. Many parts of the lower reaches are even worse, being black and stinking. The protected water area in the upper reaches, which is used as Shanghai's drinking water source, is managed so as to maintain it around the third grade, requiring government efforts such as shutting off about 100 stock farms. Yet that grade only just meets the country's basic standard for drinking water sources.

"The protection of the Huangpu River, below the lower reaches of Taihu Lake, needs the joint efforts of our neighbouring provinces - Jiangsu and Zhejiang," said Luo Hailin, an official of the Shanghai Environment Bureau. "But that won't be a task which can be achieved in a short time."

The city is working on the expansion of Chenhang Reservoir on the Yangtze River, which presently supplies 20 per cent of the city's drinking water.

But the river also faces all kinds of pollution, from stock farms, shipping, sewage discharges and pesticides used in nearby fields.

"Over the past century, the city's water source has been changed several times, from the original Suzhou Creek, the lower and middle reaches of the Huangpu River, the upper reaches of Huangpu River, all the way to the Yangtze River," said Huang Hongliang, an environment expert, in remarks to the Youth Daily.

"It could be very hard for Shanghai to find a new water source if we fail in our struggle to protect the Huangpu River or if the pollution of the Yangtze River worsens." (Star News)