According to Surface Water Environment Quality Standards of China, the water quality is categorized as follows:
Grade I: Source water and national nature reserve; Grade II: Drinking water and surface water source primary protection zone; Grade III: Drinking water and surface water source secondary protection zone; Grad IV: Industrial water use and recreational water use; Grade V: Agricultural water use and General landscape requirements.
Low quality surface water refers to surface water worse than Grade V.
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River water quality change in China 2024, by level
In 2024, river water samples across China categorized as Grade I to III had increased by around *** percentage points compared to the previous year. Among other changes, this was an indication of an improvement in river water quality in China.
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Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). (June 4, 2025). Average river water quality change in China in 2024, by quality [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 09, 2026, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065065/china-change-of-river-water-quality-across-the-country/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). "Average river water quality change in China in 2024, by quality." Chart. June 4, 2025. Statista. Accessed May 09, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065065/china-change-of-river-water-quality-across-the-country/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). (2025). Average river water quality change in China in 2024, by quality. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 09, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065065/china-change-of-river-water-quality-across-the-country/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). "Average River Water Quality Change in China in 2024, by Quality." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Jun 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065065/china-change-of-river-water-quality-across-the-country/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China), Average river water quality change in China in 2024, by quality Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065065/china-change-of-river-water-quality-across-the-country/ (last visited May 09, 2026)
Average river water quality change in China in 2024, by quality [Graph], Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China), June 4, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065065/china-change-of-river-water-quality-across-the-country/
