There has been a lot of reporting about the poor quality of air in China's industrial heartland. This article describes another environmental problem related to rapid industrialization. China has 7% of the world's fresh water supply and 20% of the worlds population. Industrialization has exacerbated the fresh water supply problem. Much of its limited supply of fresh water has been polluted by industrial waste. Drinking water has become scarce in many parts of China.
China shares many of the rivers which supply its fresh water with other countries in S.E. Asia. The level of the rivers that supply fresh water in the Mekong Delta is at its lowest level in 50 years. China is a aware of its problem and it has invested heavily in several projects that might increase its supply of clean fresh water. It is doubtful, however, that these projects can adequately address the fresh water supply problem in the face of rapid industrialization.
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