China's water environment at the beginning of the 21st century: challenges and countermeasures

Water environment crisis is a common challenge throughout the world, and the situation is becoming worse. This paper analyzes the development trend of water environment worldwide, and then evaluates the status of China’s water environment and the progress in the work of protection of the water environment. According to the future development of economy and society in China, the paper discusses the severe challenges in water environment that China faces at the beginning of the 21st century and proposes related countermeasures.