A new protection procedure that promotes better coordination of government departments has improved the quality of China's waterways. Hou Liqiang reports from Xiushui, Jiangxi province.

In November, when Wu Zhiguo, secretary-general of the Xiushui County Winter Swimming Association in Jiangxi province, and his fellow members discovered that slaughterhouse waste was being dumped in the Xiuhe River, where they usually swim, they reported the matter to the local authorities.

Although they didn't expect several government departments to respond immediately, that's what happened; the waste was quickly cleaned up and the owner of the slaughterhouse was detained and fined.