"China’s wastewater sector is in the midst of a phenomenal spurt of growth, as major cities rush to meet the target of treating 60% of wastewater by 2010. Momentum has been building in the sector over the last few decades, according to Beijing Drainage general manager Yang Xiang Ping.“In 1978 there were 37 wastewater treatment plants in the whole country, and two in Beijing. By 1997 it was more than 300, in 2004 it was 800, and by the end of last year we had around 1,500 plants, including 30 in Beijing,” Yang explains." (Quoted from article)