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US and China Increase Efforts to Protect China's Water Resources

Release Date: 03/30/2007
Contact Information: Dale Kemery, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C. - March 30, 2007) The U.S. and China signed an agreement March 27 to expand the cooperative program that provides U.S. technical assistance to help improve and protect water quality and access to safe and sustainable water resources in China. Increasing water conservation and efficiency in China will also help reduce energy consumption and air pollution locally and globally.

"This U.S.-China watershed agreement strengthens our partnership and advances the Bush Administration's agenda for sustainable economic development and environmental protection," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles.

China faces mounting water resource challenges. Under this agreement, EPA will collaborate with China to explore better management solutions through technical assistance to improve the health and accessibility of China's water resources. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation between the countries in the following areas:

• Integrated river basin watershed management;
• Man-made wetlands;
• Water resources monitoring; and
• Wastewater reuse.