Does the “10-Point Water Plan” reduce the intensity of industrial water pollution? Quasi-experimental evidence from China

The Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control (i.e., the “10-Point Water Plan”) is a regulation formulated by China to prevent and control water pollution and ensure China's water safety. To test the policy effect of the "10-Point Water Plan", we use data from 269 cities for the period from 2012 to 2017 to examine whether the implementation of the plan can help reduce the intensity of industrial water pollution. The results show that the industrial water pollution intensity in Central and Western China is significantly higher than that in other regions, and the implementation of the “10-Point Water Plan” significantly reduces industrial water pollution intensity in China. We further find that upgrading industrial structures and technological innovation are effective ways to ameliorate the intensity of industrial water pollution. In terms of spatial heterogeneity, the impact of the “10-Point Water Plan” on reducing industrial water pollution is smaller in areas with high environmental regulation intensity than in areas with low environmental regulation intensity. We also find a strong inhibitory effect of environmental regulations on industrial water pollution intensity in areas with low environmental regulation intensity. Our findings support the positive policy effect of the “10-Point Water Plan” and provide significant policy implications for water pollution prevention and control actions in China and other countries.