On Tuesday, China News Service reported sources from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission as saying that nearly four-fifths of the Yellow River is polluted.

According to water quality monitoring initiated in 1975, 60 percent of its water in 1980s was designated category 3 or above on a 5-point scale, meaning it qualified for drinking, fisheries and swimming. By the end of 1990s, this fell to 40 percent.

In March, a government report said that over 72 percent of the river's water had dropped below category 3.

It is estimated that the annual economic loss caused by Yellow River pollution is 11.5 billion-15.6 billion yuan (US$1.39 billion-1.89 billion). Since 1993, it has witnessed more than 40 pollution incidents.

Experts said that the rapid increase in sewage, uncontrolled discharge of waste water and the misuse of fertilizer have all worsened the situation.

The 5,464-kilometer river runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions and enters the Bohai Sea in north China, forming a valley of 752,000 square kilometers, watering 12 percent of the population and 15 percent of farmland.

Excessive development has resulted in serious shortage of water resources. The water resources development and utilization rate along the Yellow River valley is as high as 70 percent, much higher than the internationally recognized danger level of 40 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2005)