More than 40% of drinking water in rural areas of China is unhealthy, according to the Ministry of Health.

In country areas, 75% of people drink water from underground sources while the rest drink surface water, much of which is a source of microbial contamination.

Sanitation in densely populated cities is somewhat better than in remote areas – 85% of people living in these areas boil their water before they drink it, and this practice has lowered the chances of contracting a serious enteric infectious disease. However, the lack of sanitary toilets causes inconvenience in rural areas, where only 24% of rural families have sanitary toilets.

In such areas, most toilets are self-constructed and plumbed, being built inside or outside the courtyard.