More gauges, such as levels of heavy metal and persistent organic pollutants, will be used to evaluate the quality of major rivers and lakes, an official said on Thursday.

China has been trying to combat water pollutants after several major river pollution cases triggered a public outcry.

A total of 22 indicators will be used to evaluate river quality during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) period, Zhao Hualin, head of the pollution prevention department under the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said at a news conference.