1.3 Water Resources
15
1.3.3 Water Resources
According to the data series from 1956 to 2000, the total water resources in China
are 2,841.2 km
3 , of which the surface water resources amount to 2,738.8 km
3 , about
96% of the total. The non-overlap between groundwater and surface water resources
is 102.4 km
3 , about 4% of the total (Table 1.8).
Similar to precipitation, water resources are more plentiful in southern China and
less so in northern China, and they are more plentiful in mountainous areas and less
so in the plains. The water resources in northern China are 526.7 km
3 , accounting
for 19% of the national total. In southern China, water resources are 2,314.5 km
3 ,
81% of the national total. The water resources in the mountainous area amount to
about 90%, whereas the plains area accounts for only about 10%.
At present, in comparison with the social and economic development of the
country, water resources in China have the following characteristics: limited per
capita and land occupation, uneven regional distribution, large seasonal and interyear variations, obstacles to development and use, and asynchrony with economic
development patterns. Owing to the large population and vast land mass, the average
per capita and per unit of cultivated land water resources are very low. The average
water resource per capita in China is 2,210 m
3 , one-third of the world average. The per
unit of cultivated land value is only 21,600 m
3 per ha, about half of the world average.
Moreover, the distribution of water resources does not match the land resources and
economic activities. Southern China has 36% of the land, 54% of the population,
40% of the arable land, and 56% of the GDP of the country, but it has 81% of the
water resources. Northern China has 64% of the land, 46% of the population, 60%
of the arable land, and 44% of the GDP but only 19% of the water resources. Collectively, the Yellow River, Huai River, and Hai River Basins account for 15% of the
land, 35% of the population, 35% of the arable land, and 32% of the GDP of the
country, but only 7% of the water resources, with a per capita amount of 457 m
3 .
These three river basins have been the most prominent regions in the water supply
and demand conflict.
1.4 Water Resources Development and Use
1.4.1 Water Resources Development
1.4.1.1 Infrastructure Development
To effectively use water resources, China has developed a large number of storage,
pumping, and water diversion projects since 1949. At the end of 2000, more than
80,000 reservoirs and 5.85 million ponds had been constructed, with a total storage
capacity of 575.4 km
3 and an effective storage capacity of 312.1 km
3 , 22% and
15
1.3.3 Water Resources
According to the data series from 1956 to 2000, the total water resources in China
are 2,841.2 km
3 , of which the surface water resources amount to 2,738.8 km
3 , about
96% of the total. The non-overlap between groundwater and surface water resources
is 102.4 km
3 , about 4% of the total (Table 1.8).
Similar to precipitation, water resources are more plentiful in southern China and
less so in northern China, and they are more plentiful in mountainous areas and less
so in the plains. The water resources in northern China are 526.7 km
3 , accounting
for 19% of the national total. In southern China, water resources are 2,314.5 km
3 ,
81% of the national total. The water resources in the mountainous area amount to
about 90%, whereas the plains area accounts for only about 10%.
At present, in comparison with the social and economic development of the
country, water resources in China have the following characteristics: limited per
capita and land occupation, uneven regional distribution, large seasonal and interyear variations, obstacles to development and use, and asynchrony with economic
development patterns. Owing to the large population and vast land mass, the average
per capita and per unit of cultivated land water resources are very low. The average
water resource per capita in China is 2,210 m
3 , one-third of the world average. The per
unit of cultivated land value is only 21,600 m
3 per ha, about half of the world average.
Moreover, the distribution of water resources does not match the land resources and
economic activities. Southern China has 36% of the land, 54% of the population,
40% of the arable land, and 56% of the GDP of the country, but it has 81% of the
water resources. Northern China has 64% of the land, 46% of the population, 60%
of the arable land, and 44% of the GDP but only 19% of the water resources. Collectively, the Yellow River, Huai River, and Hai River Basins account for 15% of the
land, 35% of the population, 35% of the arable land, and 32% of the GDP of the
country, but only 7% of the water resources, with a per capita amount of 457 m
3 .
These three river basins have been the most prominent regions in the water supply
and demand conflict.
1.4 Water Resources Development and Use
1.4.1 Water Resources Development
1.4.1.1 Infrastructure Development
To effectively use water resources, China has developed a large number of storage,
pumping, and water diversion projects since 1949. At the end of 2000, more than
80,000 reservoirs and 5.85 million ponds had been constructed, with a total storage
capacity of 575.4 km
3 and an effective storage capacity of 312.1 km
3 , 22% and