Non-point pollution from China's rural areas and its countermeasures

Most lakes in the eastern part of China are eutrophic and non-point pollution accounts for more than half of the nutrient load to the lakes and reservoirs. Some efforts have been made to reduce the non-point source pollution in the catchments of sensitive water bodies. Technologies for the control of non-point pollution in Chinese rural areas are multipond systems, biogas fermentation, hilly area ecological agriculture, constructed wetlands, ecotone engineering and others. They are effective in the removal of nutrients from the runoff water or reduction of waste, and they are used with multi-purposes. To control non-point pollution, the cooperation with farmers and other residents in the countryside is the key to success, and the program has to consider their benefits. There are still many difficulties with its control, and more efforts are needed to develop suitable technologies and environmental education.