1.5 Key Water Resource Issues
23
1.5.4 Low Water-Use Efficiency
Despite water shortages in many regions, water-use efficiency and effectiveness in
China is low and water waste is common, thus exacerbating the gap between supply
and demand. Water productivity is only one-fifth of the world average. The irrigation
water-use efficiency is about 0.5. Grain output for each cubic meter of water is only
1.0 kg. Industrial water consumption output is five to ten times that of developed
countries. The industrial water reuse rate is between 60 and 65%. The urban water
supply network leakage is more than 15%. Additionally, the wastewater reuse rate
is low.
1.6 Summary
This chapter provides a general description, analysis, and summary of geography,
hydrology, and water resource development in China, and provides a physical basis
for the water resource management analyses in the subsequent chapters. The hydrological regime, water resource development, and water resource problems in China
are introduced, and characteristics related to these issues are analyzed.
The chapter starts with the geographical factors influencing water resource
management, including topography, climate, and rivers. Then, the hydrological cycle
and budget are analyzed based on a water resource assessment of the country. After
an analysis of precipitation, evaporation, and runoff, the surface water resources,
groundwater resources, and total water resources are presented. In terms of water
resource development and usage, this chapter introduces water infrastructure development, water supply, and water usage over the last 40 years. At the end, key water
issues, including water supply and demand conflicts, water pollution, deteriorating
ecosystems, and low water-use efficiency, are analyzed.
The monsoon and China’s variety of landscapes result in significant regional
differences in terms of the hydrological cycle, water resources, and related issues.
The regional distribution of water resources is uneven and not compatible with the
distribution of other resources, such as population and land. The seasonal and interyear variations are great. In summary, the natural endowment of water resources
in China is insufficient, with per capita and per unit of cultivated land totals lower
than world averages; water resources have become a key constraint in regional social
and economic development. More importantly, northern China, with its landscape
impacted by human activities and climate change, has had a significant decrease in
water resources, intensifying conflicts over water supply and demand.
23
1.5.4 Low Water-Use Efficiency
Despite water shortages in many regions, water-use efficiency and effectiveness in
China is low and water waste is common, thus exacerbating the gap between supply
and demand. Water productivity is only one-fifth of the world average. The irrigation
water-use efficiency is about 0.5. Grain output for each cubic meter of water is only
1.0 kg. Industrial water consumption output is five to ten times that of developed
countries. The industrial water reuse rate is between 60 and 65%. The urban water
supply network leakage is more than 15%. Additionally, the wastewater reuse rate
is low.
1.6 Summary
This chapter provides a general description, analysis, and summary of geography,
hydrology, and water resource development in China, and provides a physical basis
for the water resource management analyses in the subsequent chapters. The hydrological regime, water resource development, and water resource problems in China
are introduced, and characteristics related to these issues are analyzed.
The chapter starts with the geographical factors influencing water resource
management, including topography, climate, and rivers. Then, the hydrological cycle
and budget are analyzed based on a water resource assessment of the country. After
an analysis of precipitation, evaporation, and runoff, the surface water resources,
groundwater resources, and total water resources are presented. In terms of water
resource development and usage, this chapter introduces water infrastructure development, water supply, and water usage over the last 40 years. At the end, key water
issues, including water supply and demand conflicts, water pollution, deteriorating
ecosystems, and low water-use efficiency, are analyzed.
The monsoon and China’s variety of landscapes result in significant regional
differences in terms of the hydrological cycle, water resources, and related issues.
The regional distribution of water resources is uneven and not compatible with the
distribution of other resources, such as population and land. The seasonal and interyear variations are great. In summary, the natural endowment of water resources
in China is insufficient, with per capita and per unit of cultivated land totals lower
than world averages; water resources have become a key constraint in regional social
and economic development. More importantly, northern China, with its landscape
impacted by human activities and climate change, has had a significant decrease in
water resources, intensifying conflicts over water supply and demand.