Increasing demand for Increasing demand for water in Chinawater in China

China's water supply, vital to the country's China's water supply, vital to the country's sustainable development, is likely to be sustainable development, is likely to be

stretched to its limit by 2030 as the population stretched to its limit by 2030 as the population climbs above 1.6 billion with an urbanization climbs above 1.6 billion with an urbanization

rate of about 60 per cent.rate of about 60 per cent.

Growing DemandGrowing Demand & & IndustrialisationIndustrialisation

The growing demand for water is underpinned by The growing demand for water is underpinned by China’s continued industrialization with per annum GDP China’s continued industrialization with per annum GDP growth of 9 to 10%. growth of 9 to 10%.

Urban China and industry consume 180 billion cubic Urban China and industry consume 180 billion cubic metres of water per year or over 20 per cent of the total metres of water per year or over 20 per cent of the total

Industry in China uses 3 to 10 times more water, Industry in China uses 3 to 10 times more water, depending on the product, than industries in developed depending on the product, than industries in developed nations.nations.

40,000 gallons of water to manufacture a car and 60,000 40,000 gallons of water to manufacture a car and 60,000 gallons to manufacture 1 ton of steel; presumably, the gallons to manufacture 1 ton of steel; presumably, the water requirements for such processes are even higher water requirements for such processes are even higher in China. in China.

AgricultureAgriculture As global food prices soar, policies to encourage As global food prices soar, policies to encourage

grain self-sufficiency will stimulate more grain grain self-sufficiency will stimulate more grain agriculture, a very water-intensive practice.agriculture, a very water-intensive practice.

Increasing proportions of meat in Chinese diets Increasing proportions of meat in Chinese diets will add additional strains on water.will add additional strains on water.

Twenty-five years from now, about half of Twenty-five years from now, about half of China's water supply will be used for irrigation to China's water supply will be used for irrigation to feed its growing population feed its growing population

260 gallons of water are needed to produce 260 gallons of water are needed to produce 2.2 pounds of wheat and 3,380 gallons of water 2.2 pounds of wheat and 3,380 gallons of water are needed to produce 2.2 pounds of beef. are needed to produce 2.2 pounds of beef.

BiofuelsBiofuels

The production of biofuels has also The production of biofuels has also increased sharply in recent years, which increased sharply in recent years, which needs for large quantities of water and needs for large quantities of water and fertilizers to grow the crops. The fertilizers to grow the crops. The production of ethanol, 77 billion liters in production of ethanol, 77 billion liters in 2008, tripled between 2000 and 2007, and 2008, tripled between 2000 and 2007, and is expected to reach 127 billion liters by is expected to reach 127 billion liters by 2017.2017.

Energy DemandsEnergy Demands

As China’s energy demands soar, with As China’s energy demands soar, with industrialisation & improving standards of industrialisation & improving standards of living. There will need to be the living. There will need to be the construction of new coal, and soon nuclear construction of new coal, and soon nuclear plants, both of which require large sources plants, both of which require large sources of water.of water.

PollutionPollution The concentration of heavy industry along water sources The concentration of heavy industry along water sources

means that at least 70% of China’s rivers and lakes are means that at least 70% of China’s rivers and lakes are polluted and half of China’s cities have contaminated polluted and half of China’s cities have contaminated groundwater. groundwater.

In the north the Yellow river has been so over-exploited In the north the Yellow river has been so over-exploited that it fails to reach the ocean for most of the year. that it fails to reach the ocean for most of the year. Further south the Huaihe, considered the country's most Further south the Huaihe, considered the country's most polluted river, is frequently linked to the declining health polluted river, is frequently linked to the declining health of local residents. of local residents.

Even the Yangtze, which supplies water to a 12th of the Even the Yangtze, which supplies water to a 12th of the world's population, is showing the growing pressure of world's population, is showing the growing pressure of dams, river traffic and effluent from supercities such as dams, river traffic and effluent from supercities such as Chongqing, which has a municipal population of 30 Chongqing, which has a municipal population of 30 million. Less than a third of the waste from China's cities million. Less than a third of the waste from China's cities is treated. is treated.

Climate ChangeClimate Change Global warming may intensify and accelerate Global warming may intensify and accelerate

global hydrological cycle, which will increase global hydrological cycle, which will increase rates of evaporation and precipitation. By 2020, rates of evaporation and precipitation. By 2020, between 75 million to 250 million people may between 75 million to 250 million people may experience increased water stress due to experience increased water stress due to climate change.climate change.

Glacial runoff supplies the region with about one Glacial runoff supplies the region with about one quarter of its water. As quarter of its water. As glaciers retreatglaciers retreat, this will , this will actually increase water supplies initially (until actually increase water supplies initially (until perhaps 2020, according to the original article), perhaps 2020, according to the original article), but then water supplies will become even more but then water supplies will become even more scarce than they are already. scarce than they are already.

Effects on EcosystemsEffects on Ecosystems

Among 514 rivers the survey monitored, Among 514 rivers the survey monitored, 60 ran dry in 2000 with their function either 60 ran dry in 2000 with their function either degraded or lost. degraded or lost.

Water volume in the nation's lakes has Water volume in the nation's lakes has also dipped 14 per cent with many also dipped 14 per cent with many wetlands shrinking drastically in size, the wetlands shrinking drastically in size, the survey showed. survey showed.

Demographic mismatchDemographic mismatch

First, China has about 20% of the world’s First, China has about 20% of the world’s population, but only 7% of its water resources to population, but only 7% of its water resources to sustain it. sustain it.

Second, there is a stark regional north-south Second, there is a stark regional north-south imbalance. Only 14.7% of the country’s water is imbalance. Only 14.7% of the country’s water is distributed in the vast areas to the north of the distributed in the vast areas to the north of the Yangtze River, where the amount of arable land Yangtze River, where the amount of arable land accounts for 59.2% of the national total, and the accounts for 59.2% of the national total, and the population makes up 44.4% of the totalpopulation makes up 44.4% of the total

The World Water ReportThe World Water Report

The World Water report continues by singling The World Water report continues by singling out China as a country in danger of water stress out China as a country in danger of water stress because of its inefficient water use and large because of its inefficient water use and large projects such as the Three Gorges Dam projects such as the Three Gorges Dam scheme. "Chinese Rivers and lakes are dead scheme. "Chinese Rivers and lakes are dead and dying, groundwater aquifers are and dying, groundwater aquifers are overpumped, uncounted species of aquatic life overpumped, uncounted species of aquatic life have been driven to extinction, and direct have been driven to extinction, and direct adverse impacts on both human and ecosystem adverse impacts on both human and ecosystem health are widespread and growing," health are widespread and growing,"

ManagementManagement Water authorities of Shenzhen are planning to Water authorities of Shenzhen are planning to

use seawater to meet rising demand.use seawater to meet rising demand. The city will launch a number of seawater The city will launch a number of seawater

desalination projects in power plants and tourism desalination projects in power plants and tourism resorts along the east coast during the next five resorts along the east coast during the next five years.years.

So far this year, more than 30 Chinese cities, So far this year, more than 30 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, have announced plans to increase prices for have announced plans to increase prices for household water supplies by a range of 0.4 yuan household water supplies by a range of 0.4 yuan ($0.06) to 1 yuan ($0.15) per cubic meter. The ($0.06) to 1 yuan ($0.15) per cubic meter. The local governments have been pushing up prices, local governments have been pushing up prices, with a view of encouraging more recycling and with a view of encouraging more recycling and efficient water use.efficient water use.

Management 2Management 2 The lower reaches of the Yellow river, which feeds The lower reaches of the Yellow river, which feeds

China's most important farming region, ran dry for 226 China's most important farming region, ran dry for 226 days in 1997. Between 1991 and 1996, the water table days in 1997. Between 1991 and 1996, the water table beneath the north China plain fell by an average of 1.5 beneath the north China plain fell by an average of 1.5 metres a year. metres a year.

To combat this, work has begun on China's biggest ever To combat this, work has begun on China's biggest ever construction project - a massive scheme to channel construction project - a massive scheme to channel billions of cubic metres of water from the Yangtze to the billions of cubic metres of water from the Yangtze to the replenish the dwindling Yellow river.replenish the dwindling Yellow river.