Extract

Water pollution often goes beyond administrative boundaries and can constitute a threat to peopleís survival, social security and sustainable development, so the Chinese government at different levels and the public have begun to regard the prevention and control of water pollution not only within an administrative jurisdiction but also in a transboundary watershed context as a high priority. The Tai Lake Basin is situated in one of the most economically developed areas in China and it has witnessed rapid industrialization and urbanization. This has caused the degradation of water quality, however, at huge environmental, economic and social cost. A drinking water pollution incident in Wuxi City in 2007 caused great astonishment. To cope with the pollution crises in the Tai Lake Basin, the Chinese government at the national and provincial level launched a variety of legal and political campaigns. In 2011 the State Council of China promulgated and enforced the Regulation on Administration of the Tai Lake River Basin.