Taihu lake pollution-control project underway

Taihu, China's third-largest freshwater lake, has become increasingly polluted over recent decades. There have been particular problems with blue green algae and with lake flashing. This issue is now being addressed through the Ninth Five-Year Plan on Controlling Taihu Lake Water Pollution and the Program Through to the Year 2010. It is planned that the quality of water at concentrated drinking water sources and major lake and river outlets should reach the third-class standard for ground water by the end of 2000. However, there has been slow progress with the construction of sewage works in cities and towns along the lake.