The　development　of　digital　economy　affects　environmental　pollution　emission　and　green　sustainable　development.　However,　the　relationship　between　digital　economy　and　industrial　wastewater　discharge　has　rarely　been　examined.　This　study　establishes　the　urban　digital　economy　evaluation　index　system,　measures　the　digital　economy　indexes　of　281　prefecture-level　cities　in　China　from　2011　to　2016,　and　examines　the　impact　effect　of　digital　economy　development　on　industrial　wastewater　discharge　using　the　system　generalized　method　of　moment　method　and　the　intermediary　effects　model.　The　empirical　results　indicate　that　the　digital　economy　reduces　the　industrial　wastewater　discharge.　As　evidence　shows,　the　digital　economy　significantly　promotes　the　upgrading　of　industrial　structure,　which　is　an　important　factor　affecting　the　industrial　wastewater　discharge.　Additionally,　the　inhibiting　effect　of　digital　economy　on　industrial　wastewater　discharge　is　more　significant　in　big　cities.　This　study　provides　a　scientific　base　and　guidance　for　reducing　environmental　pollution　emissions　and　promoting　the　development　of　digital　economy.