162
W. Cai et al.
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
water resource (100 million cu.m)
Total Water (TWR)
Surface Water
Ground Water
Duplicated Water
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Fig. 5.1 The composition of water resources and its evolution of China in 2008–2018
in China published by the Ministry of Water Resources, fluctuations were observed
in the total water resources in China within the decade (2008–2018), with the annual
average standing at 2800 billion m
3 , compared to underground water, surface water
remained the principal part of China’s total water resources, accounting for 96% on
average throughout the years (Fig. 5.1).
China ranks the sixth in the world with 7% of the world’s total fresh water, yet
the pressing challenge of shortage in fresh water has become a major impediment
for China’s sustainable economic and social development. Statistics from World
Resources Institute suggest that China is home to 20% of the world population
yet possesses only 7% of global water resources, meaning that water resources per
capita represents approximately one quarter of the world’s average. Currently, 16 out
of 31 provinces in China’s mainland are plagued by water shortage, while two thirds
of the 600 cities face severe water shortage. China, as one of the main countries
struggling with water resources depletion, has no choice but to confront and tackle
this challenge.
Another key feature of China’s water reality is the disparity in temporal and
geographical distribution, as can be described as “abundance in the south and shortage
in the north; abundance in summer and shortage in winter”, shaping varied endowments in different regions. The socio-economic growth has prompted a growing
need of water. Since 2010, total water consumption in China has remained above
600 billion m
3 and the demand for water has hit a high level, exceeding 20% of
total water resources, which has presented a daunting challenge for the rational and
balanced exploitation and utilization of water resources.
Apart from shortage and disparity, water resources in China are also troubled
by the grim reality of deteriorating quality due to pollution from industries, urban
W. Cai et al.
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
water resource (100 million cu.m)
Total Water (TWR)
Surface Water
Ground Water
Duplicated Water
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Fig. 5.1 The composition of water resources and its evolution of China in 2008–2018
in China published by the Ministry of Water Resources, fluctuations were observed
in the total water resources in China within the decade (2008–2018), with the annual
average standing at 2800 billion m
3 , compared to underground water, surface water
remained the principal part of China’s total water resources, accounting for 96% on
average throughout the years (Fig. 5.1).
China ranks the sixth in the world with 7% of the world’s total fresh water, yet
the pressing challenge of shortage in fresh water has become a major impediment
for China’s sustainable economic and social development. Statistics from World
Resources Institute suggest that China is home to 20% of the world population
yet possesses only 7% of global water resources, meaning that water resources per
capita represents approximately one quarter of the world’s average. Currently, 16 out
of 31 provinces in China’s mainland are plagued by water shortage, while two thirds
of the 600 cities face severe water shortage. China, as one of the main countries
struggling with water resources depletion, has no choice but to confront and tackle
this challenge.
Another key feature of China’s water reality is the disparity in temporal and
geographical distribution, as can be described as “abundance in the south and shortage
in the north; abundance in summer and shortage in winter”, shaping varied endowments in different regions. The socio-economic growth has prompted a growing
need of water. Since 2010, total water consumption in China has remained above
600 billion m
3 and the demand for water has hit a high level, exceeding 20% of
total water resources, which has presented a daunting challenge for the rational and
balanced exploitation and utilization of water resources.
Apart from shortage and disparity, water resources in China are also troubled
by the grim reality of deteriorating quality due to pollution from industries, urban