The Tai Lake watershed area has seen rapid economic growth in the past 20 years, leading to increased pollution from untreated wastewater. Around 5 billion cubic meters of industrial and domestic wastewater are discharged into rivers and lakes annually, with only 20% being treated. Water quality in the area is severely impacted, with 80.6% of monitoring sites showing serious pollution. The main pollutants causing issues are organic pollution and high levels of permanganate index and ammonia-nitrogen. This pollution has led to severe eutrophication in Tai Lake, with 71% of the water area affected.