14
1 Physical Settings and Water Challenges
1.3.2 Groundwater Resources
The total amount of groundwater resources in the country is 821.8 km
3 , of which the
amount with salinity not exceeding 1 g/L is 797.1 km
3 , and the amount with salinity
of 1–2 g/L is 24.7 km
3 . Groundwater resources in northern China equal 245.8 km
3 ,
accounting for 30% of the national total. Groundwater resources in southern China
equal 576.0 km
3 , accounting for 70% of the national total (Table 1.7).
The groundwater resources in the plain area are 176.5 km
3 , of which the volume
with salinity of less than 1 g/L and 1–2 g/L are 146.2 km
3 and 30.3 km
3 , respectively.
The groundwater resources in the northern plains area are 138.3 km
3 , and 38.2 km
3
is from southern China. The groundwater resources in the country’s mountainous
areas are 677.0 km
3 , of which 21% is in northern China and 79% in southern China.
Table 1.7 Groundwater resources in China
Primary water
resources zones
Resources (km 3 ) Mountain
Plain resources
(km 3 )
Resources (km 3 ) Of which, river
baseflow (km 3 )
Songhua
47.79
25.05
23.27
24.38
Liao River
20.29
9.76
8.57
11.67
Hai River
23.49
10.81
6.71
16.04
Yellow River
37.59
26.33
21.96
15.46
Huai River
39.70
12.73
8.78
27.99
Yangtze River
249.20
225.58
225.41
24.76
Rivers in
Southeast China
65.57
61.02
61.02
5.60
Pearl River
116.26
108.76
108.76
7.83
Rivers in
Southwest China
143.97
143.97
143.97
0
Rivers in
Northwest China
76.96
53.02
47.32
42.78
Northern China 245.81
137.70
116.61
138.31
Southern China 576.00
539.33
539.16
38.20
Total
821.81
677.02
655.77
176.51
Sources General Institute of Water and Power Planning (2014) Assessment for water resources and
its development and use. China Water and Power Publisher, Beijing, p. 96
Permission granted by General Institute of Water and Power Planning on its website subject to
proper citation
1 Physical Settings and Water Challenges
1.3.2 Groundwater Resources
The total amount of groundwater resources in the country is 821.8 km
3 , of which the
amount with salinity not exceeding 1 g/L is 797.1 km
3 , and the amount with salinity
of 1–2 g/L is 24.7 km
3 . Groundwater resources in northern China equal 245.8 km
3 ,
accounting for 30% of the national total. Groundwater resources in southern China
equal 576.0 km
3 , accounting for 70% of the national total (Table 1.7).
The groundwater resources in the plain area are 176.5 km
3 , of which the volume
with salinity of less than 1 g/L and 1–2 g/L are 146.2 km
3 and 30.3 km
3 , respectively.
The groundwater resources in the northern plains area are 138.3 km
3 , and 38.2 km
3
is from southern China. The groundwater resources in the country’s mountainous
areas are 677.0 km
3 , of which 21% is in northern China and 79% in southern China.
Table 1.7 Groundwater resources in China
Primary water
resources zones
Resources (km 3 ) Mountain
Plain resources
(km 3 )
Resources (km 3 ) Of which, river
baseflow (km 3 )
Songhua
47.79
25.05
23.27
24.38
Liao River
20.29
9.76
8.57
11.67
Hai River
23.49
10.81
6.71
16.04
Yellow River
37.59
26.33
21.96
15.46
Huai River
39.70
12.73
8.78
27.99
Yangtze River
249.20
225.58
225.41
24.76
Rivers in
Southeast China
65.57
61.02
61.02
5.60
Pearl River
116.26
108.76
108.76
7.83
Rivers in
Southwest China
143.97
143.97
143.97
0
Rivers in
Northwest China
76.96
53.02
47.32
42.78
Northern China 245.81
137.70
116.61
138.31
Southern China 576.00
539.33
539.16
38.20
Total
821.81
677.02
655.77
176.51
Sources General Institute of Water and Power Planning (2014) Assessment for water resources and
its development and use. China Water and Power Publisher, Beijing, p. 96
Permission granted by General Institute of Water and Power Planning on its website subject to
proper citation