An aerial view of Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Our main concerns include the use of resources, coal consumption restrictions, straw burning and emissions from vehicles and ships," said Zhang.

He said in Shanghai 500 to 600 polluting industrial enterprises are made to clean up their act or closed each year, and some neighbors are having to play catch up to achieve uniform standards.

"Jiangsu Province might have to take action on more than 1,000 polluting enterprises every year to catch up with the pace of the joint effort in the Yangtze River Delta region," said Zhang. "These are historical problems from earlier developments."

Meanwhile, the city is to continue increasing punishments for polluting air, water and soil through illegal discharges and emissions.

Shanghai has already adjusted its penalty system, levying fines on a daily basis to encourage immediate improvements.

Fines totaling 70 million yuan (US$11.27 million) were collected by the environment bureau in 2013 -- up 50 percent on 2012.

Now the bureau is also turning its attention to individuals in companies responsible for pollution.

"In future, punishments will also be handed out to individuals, with them receiving fines and shouldering legal responsibilities," said Zhang.

He also said more water quality detection stations will be built at the borders of the city to neighboring provinces.

The bureau director added that the city government has approved building another reservoir, similar to the Qingcaosha Reservoir in the mouth of Yangtze River.

Currently, most of Shanghai's tap water comes from Qingcaosha Reservoir and the Huangpu River. Monitoring water quality is easier in closed reservoirs.