Growing cities, overuse of fertilizers and factory wastewater have degraded China's water supplies to the extent that half the nation's rivers and lakes are severely polluted. China aims to spend $850 billion to improve filthy water supplies over the next decade, but even such huge outlays may do little to reverse damage caused by decades of pollution and overuse in Beijing's push for rapid economic growth. Photo: Fishermen row a boat in the algae-filled Chaohu Lake in Hefei, Anhui province, June 19, 2009. (Photo by Jianan Yu/Reuters)

A woman wearing a kimono performs an uchimizu ritual outside a pachinko game parlor in Tokyo June 30, 2015. The splashing of water onto the hot asphalt in summer is an old Japanese tradition meant to cool down the air as the water evaporates. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)

A woman poses with her tattoo during the Shanghai Tattoo Extreme & Body Art Expo 2017 in Shanghai, China September 2, 2017. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

Animal rights activists, including musician Kris Reichert, center, hold up signs with writing in Italian reading; “Leather: a lethal look” and “I wouldn't wear animal skin even if I were dead” as they stage a demonstration in front of Milan's Duomo gothic cathedral, Italy, Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Milan Fashion Week previews kick off Wednesday with Gucci, leading up to the awards on Sunday night. (Photo by Luca Bruno/AP Photo)

A worker pauses for a sandwich, resting on a girder during the construction of a skycraper. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1930

“On 24 July 2010, a stampede at the 2010 Love Parade electronic dance music festival in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, caused the death of 21 people. At least 510 more were injured”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Wall art and candles are pictured in the tunnel of the 2010 Loveparade disaster near to where many of the deaths occurred on the first anniversary of the tragedy on July 24, 2011 in Duisburg, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Starke/Getty Images)

Students from Glasgow Art School modelling casual clothing and Buchan tartan in the annual Fashion Show for charities. During Rag Week students parade in the city streets wearing costumes designed and made by themselves. (Photo by Haywood Magee/Picture Post/Getty Images). 7th February 1953

The world's biggest wild animal farmer, Carr Hartley of Rumuruti in Kenya, sells animals to zoos, circuses and film companies. (Photo by Maxim Ruston/BIPs/Getty Images). November 1956