Impact of industrialization on water protection in the Huai River Basin within Shandong Province, China

Despite rapid economic growth and industrialization in the Huai River Basin within Shandong Province, water quality improved during 2005–2010 under state-controlled monitoring. The industrial structure theory, environmental Kuznets curve, and statistical analyses were used to examine correlations between economic development and industrial water pollutant loads. The beverage, textile, paper, and food processing industries are major polluters, and structural pollution deters simultaneous industrialization and water resource management. This paper proposes policy actions and indicates that constant adjustments to the industrial structure are important for promoting coordinated growth of industry and water environmental protection.