12.1 Water Resources and Management Challenges in 2008
255
12.1.2 Water Resources Management
These severe challenges require a comprehensive approach to managing the country’s
water resources that balance socio-economic development with the need to preserve
resources, control pollution, and protect ecological systems. But water resources
management a decade ago fell far short of meeting these requirements.
Management systems had failed to improve the quality and efficiency of water
supply, undermining the country’s economic development model and structure. The
long-term model, with high input, high consumption, high pollution, low output, and
low benefit, had not changed fundamentally. The efficient and effective use of water
resources fell far behind that of developed countries, and the wastage of water was
extensive in agricultural and industrial production and household living. In addition,
the use of non-traditional water sources, such as recycled water, seawater, rainwater,
etc., was lower. This waste further exacerbated water shortages.
More seriously, some regions disregarded water resources altogether when planning their socio-economic development. The ideal of short-term, fast economic
growth came at the cost of a waste of resources and environmental degradation.
For example, in NCP, which suffered severe water shortages, consumption for waterintensive industries accounted for 99% of total industrial water extraction (excluding
the use of once-through cooling water for thermal power plants). Metropolises and
urban agglomerations were developed in a number of water-poor regions, along with
water-intensive, water-intensive forms of agriculture, and pollution-heavy industries—the industrial sector in China is prone to pollution due to out-of-date equipment and technology. Urban and industrial wastewater was poorly treated. Inadequate
investment and sub-standard collection networks prevented the normal operation of
sewage treatment facilities in most cities. The lag of water pollution control had
deteriorated water body, and aggravated water supply and demand conflict as well.
In rural areas, water plays a critical role in agriculture. Irrigated farming accounts
for almost half the total cultivated land in China, consumes about two-thirds of all
water withdrawals, and is vital for sustaining the country’s food security as well as
livelihoods in rural communities. Demand is expected to grow in the future but there
are concerns that irrigation infrastructure is not sufficient to cope with the needs of
a growing population and severe drought conditions, which now occur regularly not
just in drier regions but across the country. In the towns and cities, meanwhile, high
priority used to be given to water requirements which could speed up industrial and
urban growth. Together, rising urban and rural water use imposes a heavy burden on
resources management and focus the need on integration to resolve these conflicting
demands when allocating water.
Water is an integral part of people’s lives, health, and well-being, and China needs
to provide safe drinking water for both urban and rural populations. Yet in 2009,
203 million people in rural communities and nearly 100 million urban dwellers
were unable to access safe drinking water due to water shortages or poor water
quality. Water resources management must give priority to supplies that directly
255
12.1.2 Water Resources Management
These severe challenges require a comprehensive approach to managing the country’s
water resources that balance socio-economic development with the need to preserve
resources, control pollution, and protect ecological systems. But water resources
management a decade ago fell far short of meeting these requirements.
Management systems had failed to improve the quality and efficiency of water
supply, undermining the country’s economic development model and structure. The
long-term model, with high input, high consumption, high pollution, low output, and
low benefit, had not changed fundamentally. The efficient and effective use of water
resources fell far behind that of developed countries, and the wastage of water was
extensive in agricultural and industrial production and household living. In addition,
the use of non-traditional water sources, such as recycled water, seawater, rainwater,
etc., was lower. This waste further exacerbated water shortages.
More seriously, some regions disregarded water resources altogether when planning their socio-economic development. The ideal of short-term, fast economic
growth came at the cost of a waste of resources and environmental degradation.
For example, in NCP, which suffered severe water shortages, consumption for waterintensive industries accounted for 99% of total industrial water extraction (excluding
the use of once-through cooling water for thermal power plants). Metropolises and
urban agglomerations were developed in a number of water-poor regions, along with
water-intensive, water-intensive forms of agriculture, and pollution-heavy industries—the industrial sector in China is prone to pollution due to out-of-date equipment and technology. Urban and industrial wastewater was poorly treated. Inadequate
investment and sub-standard collection networks prevented the normal operation of
sewage treatment facilities in most cities. The lag of water pollution control had
deteriorated water body, and aggravated water supply and demand conflict as well.
In rural areas, water plays a critical role in agriculture. Irrigated farming accounts
for almost half the total cultivated land in China, consumes about two-thirds of all
water withdrawals, and is vital for sustaining the country’s food security as well as
livelihoods in rural communities. Demand is expected to grow in the future but there
are concerns that irrigation infrastructure is not sufficient to cope with the needs of
a growing population and severe drought conditions, which now occur regularly not
just in drier regions but across the country. In the towns and cities, meanwhile, high
priority used to be given to water requirements which could speed up industrial and
urban growth. Together, rising urban and rural water use imposes a heavy burden on
resources management and focus the need on integration to resolve these conflicting
demands when allocating water.
Water is an integral part of people’s lives, health, and well-being, and China needs
to provide safe drinking water for both urban and rural populations. Yet in 2009,
203 million people in rural communities and nearly 100 million urban dwellers
were unable to access safe drinking water due to water shortages or poor water
quality. Water resources management must give priority to supplies that directly