Source 4

Water for irrigation

At one time, The Aral Sea, in Central Asia, was the worlds fourth
biggest saline lake, containing 10 grams of salt per litre. One fifth
of the water in this sea was supplied by rainfall, while two rivers,
the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya supplied the rest.
In order to irrigate the desert areas surrounding the Aral Sea,
which had been designated as agricultural areas, the Soviet
government decided to divert these rivers. Unfortunately, this
diversion led to an imbalance in nature that caused various
environmental problems.
From the 1960s on, the water level in the Aral Sea fell.
Evaporation is a normal occurrence, however, without water from
the rivers to replace the evaporated water, the sea slowly began
to desiccate (dry out). As the water level dropped, the sea
became shallower and was heated more quickly by the sun,
creating even more evaporation. The original 10 grams of salt per
litre rose to more than 100 grams, causing large numbers of fish
to die. In the first ten years, the salinity of the sea increased by
14%, a level at which it is difficult for many commercial fish to live.
Consequently, commercial fishing catches fell from 43,430 tons in
1960 to zero in 1980.
Most of the changes in climate and landscape around the Aral
Sea are created by humans. Interference in the river systems that
supplied the sea have also led to an increase in the amount of
salt in the soil. As a result, many plants are unable to grow there
and the land has desertified. As the topsoil dries up, soil erosion
and dust storms occur. Satellite images show that, every year, up
to ten major dust storms occur. These can distribute dust and salt
to areas as far as 500 kms away, with some of this salt damaging
soil in distant areas.

Source 2
Environmental Consequences
China is suffering the effects of water shortages. Four fifths of the
country's water is found in the southern provinces, where the
number of rivers available has fallen and the ones that are
available are polluted. A government study, done in 2007,
determined that of 8,000 miles of the Yellow River, a third is not
suitable even for agriculture.
China's industrial growth has been rapid, with many factories
being built on the banks of rivers. Inefficient management of water
used in industry, with only 40% of it being recycled and the
remaining 60% being dumped into rivers and lakes has lead to
the problem of pollution. The resulting environmental damage
could be devastating.
Several environmental activists have criticised the Chinese
government, accusing it of ignoring the dangers to the
environment through the building of gigantic engineering projects.
One of these projects was the infamous Three Gorges, but an
even bigger project is the South-North Water Diversion Project.
This will link the Yangzi river with the Yellow river, taking water
from the south to the north. Critics say that the engineering work
done on this project will affect the fragile Himalayan Plateau, and
has already reduced the plankton present in the Yangzi by over
75%.
Another effect of water shortages could be political. China's
engineering projects could have an impact on neighbouring
countries, for example, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. China's
attempts to increase their own water supplies could result in the
flow of rivers to these countries and lead to instability in the
region.
Source: Peter, A. (2013). China's Search for Water: The
SinoEuropean Gazette.