Beijing Times says authorities must also act quickly to introduce acceptable quality standards for bottled drinking water to allay public fears about contamination from deteriorating air and water quality as well as polluting industries.

BBC: China media: Fake food scandals

Water quality issues also create risk for companies, from stricter pollution standards on their own effluent to other entities polluting water upstream, requiring them to clean up water prior to use.

FORBES: A New Tool To Manage Companies' Growing Water Risks

Nongfu Spring, one of the China's biggest water producers, is suing Beijing Times for alleging that its bottled water did not meet national water quality standards, but instead adhered to a lower provincial standard.

BBC: China media: Middle East mediation

The municipalities are now looking for private help as the Environmental Protection Agency imposes standards on water quality that municipalities cannot satisfy without outside financing and expertise.

ECONOMIST: Water