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12 The Strictest Water Resources Management Strategy …
12.1 Water Resources and Management Challenges in 2008
12.1.1 Water Resources
China is rich in water resources and ranks sixth in the world in terms of volume. But
in 2008, the water available per capita was only 2,200 m
3 , less than one-third of the
world average; water-use efficiency and benefits were also relatively low. The GDP
output per cubic meter of water was also only a third of the world average. Moreover,
water resources are unevenly spread across the country, making it difficult to balance
supply and demand at a local level. The authorities realized that, under the impact
of significant climate change, accelerating industrialization and urbanization, water
resources would present major obstacles for achieving China’s sustainable social and
economic development in the years ahead.
Investigation of changes in water resources across China provides further cause for
concern. Water resources assessments since 2000 indicate that average annual rainfall
in four major river basins—the Yellow River, Huai River, Hai River, and Liao River—
has fallen by 6% and that surface water flows are down by 17%. Average annual flows
in the Hai River in particular are down by 41%. On average, annual water shortages
across the country exceed 50 billion m
3 , two-thirds of China’s cities suffer water
shortages in varying degrees, and 15 million hectares of farmland are damaged by
drought. In some regions of northern China, water abstraction has exceeded available
water resources, groundwater levels are falling, and there are continuing reports of
ecological and environmental damage. The critical problem of water resources now
presents one of the most important obstacles to realizing China’s strategic target for
building a wealthy society through a process of sustainable development.
Although the annual rate of growth in water use had slowed from 1.46% in the
1990s to 0.6% in 2010, there remain concerns that water demand will continue
to increase as the population grows—with a peak forecast around 2030—and as
China continues to develop its fast-growing economy and to further industrialize and
urbanize.
Poor water-use efficiency is a common problem. Total water use across the country
in 2008 was 591 billion m
3 . Industry used 108 m
3 to add 10,000 RMB in valueadded; average irrigation efficiency across the country was only 48%; leakage from
pipe networks in many cities was above 20%; and industrial water reuse was only
about 60%. This was far below the level of developed countries and so there was
significant potential for increasing water-use efficiency and reducing wastage.
By 2008, the increasing amount of wastewater discharge had reached almost 75.8
billion m
3 . Poor effluent treatment capacity had led to severe pollution of rivers and
lakes. Only 42.9% of water function zones met the water quality objectives of the
zone. Over 19% of total river water was classified as of inferior quality (Class V)
and was unusable. Water pollution further aggravates water shortages and threatens
drinking water safety and public health. Saving water and controlling water pollution
is the most urgent and challenging task in China (Chen 2009).
12 The Strictest Water Resources Management Strategy …
12.1 Water Resources and Management Challenges in 2008
12.1.1 Water Resources
China is rich in water resources and ranks sixth in the world in terms of volume. But
in 2008, the water available per capita was only 2,200 m
3 , less than one-third of the
world average; water-use efficiency and benefits were also relatively low. The GDP
output per cubic meter of water was also only a third of the world average. Moreover,
water resources are unevenly spread across the country, making it difficult to balance
supply and demand at a local level. The authorities realized that, under the impact
of significant climate change, accelerating industrialization and urbanization, water
resources would present major obstacles for achieving China’s sustainable social and
economic development in the years ahead.
Investigation of changes in water resources across China provides further cause for
concern. Water resources assessments since 2000 indicate that average annual rainfall
in four major river basins—the Yellow River, Huai River, Hai River, and Liao River—
has fallen by 6% and that surface water flows are down by 17%. Average annual flows
in the Hai River in particular are down by 41%. On average, annual water shortages
across the country exceed 50 billion m
3 , two-thirds of China’s cities suffer water
shortages in varying degrees, and 15 million hectares of farmland are damaged by
drought. In some regions of northern China, water abstraction has exceeded available
water resources, groundwater levels are falling, and there are continuing reports of
ecological and environmental damage. The critical problem of water resources now
presents one of the most important obstacles to realizing China’s strategic target for
building a wealthy society through a process of sustainable development.
Although the annual rate of growth in water use had slowed from 1.46% in the
1990s to 0.6% in 2010, there remain concerns that water demand will continue
to increase as the population grows—with a peak forecast around 2030—and as
China continues to develop its fast-growing economy and to further industrialize and
urbanize.
Poor water-use efficiency is a common problem. Total water use across the country
in 2008 was 591 billion m
3 . Industry used 108 m
3 to add 10,000 RMB in valueadded; average irrigation efficiency across the country was only 48%; leakage from
pipe networks in many cities was above 20%; and industrial water reuse was only
about 60%. This was far below the level of developed countries and so there was
significant potential for increasing water-use efficiency and reducing wastage.
By 2008, the increasing amount of wastewater discharge had reached almost 75.8
billion m
3 . Poor effluent treatment capacity had led to severe pollution of rivers and
lakes. Only 42.9% of water function zones met the water quality objectives of the
zone. Over 19% of total river water was classified as of inferior quality (Class V)
and was unusable. Water pollution further aggravates water shortages and threatens
drinking water safety and public health. Saving water and controlling water pollution
is the most urgent and challenging task in China (Chen 2009).