Clean Water Crisis in China

China is facing a significant issue over its water-security, which it recognises and plans to solve. The country contains 20% of the population but only about 7% of its water is fresh, and more so, most of the Chinese population lives in the northern territories, whilst 80% of the freshwater is in the southern territories. Additionally, climate change will further impact water scarcity, with temperatures increasing every year in China. One main source of fresh water is from the glaciers in the Himalayas and the rising temperatures are causing them to melt, thus there will be less freshwater for China in the long run. In 2013, a three-year survey of their river systems had found that rivers had declined by 28,000, and the groundwater aquifers that are vital for the northern territories had found they were being depleted and that 80% of them were contaminated by toxic metals and other pollutants.