Chinadialogue Weekly Digest

Re-evaluating China’s Water

Crisis
Is it really threatening to our economy?

by Mayara Huber on May 28

China’s South-North water transfer project confirm that their water shortage issue will not affect china's
economy.
This statement was written by china daily, confirming that china's water scarcity will have no effect on
their economy, nor will it will it worsen by 2020.

China has been struggling with

this problem since around the
1950s, when water pollution
has started rising. The
northern part of the country
have been especially affected.
Water scarcity is lead by
insufficient water resources
and reduced water quality due
to the increase of pollution.

Sources imply that this

problem is not imminent and
that other countries are being
too critical on this problem.
There is no need for concern and water quality will improve by 2020. The government has taken action
by setting up multiple projects and organizations, which will indeed, improve the water quality. There
are reasons why our use of water is the least of concerns.

Firstly, china mostly have apartament without a garden, and a flushing toilet. In australia for example,
up to 35% of water is used to garden and flushing toilets or lost through leakage, in melbourne alone.
It's almost up to 50 to 75% less
water per year when comparing
melbourne to Beijing. A new
concept, “Sponge city could
potentially solve this problem. Its
porous concrete, man made
wetlands and greenspaces that
capture and recycle water that
went down the drain. Xuemei Bai,
who is a professor at the Australian
National University, explained that
this solution is extremely
economic. When trying to upgrade
sewage infrastructure, it could
become a lot more expensive than the sponge concept. 16 cities confirmed, in april 2015, that they
would try this new concept, with a goal of reaching up to 70% of rainfall. Bai confirmed that they had
spent more than $12 million on this project.

Secondly, many sources say that water taken from rivers, reservoirs for groundwater disappears, which
is not true. Most of the extracted water source is reused and recycled and has filled up to 1 quarter of
beijing's water. Even Though it's slightly less than the Yangtze as a part of the South north china water
project, the growing availability if recycled water appear to be leading a recovery of groundwater levels
in Beijing. What is meant, is that when the groundwater levels fall, that often indicates a water crisis.

Lastly, if Beijing was in an actual water crisi, how come the city was able to use over 1 billion cubic
meters of water in 2016 for environmental flows and parks. Research and studies show that water
consumption data shows that beijing had been especially “ecological when it came to water”, as has
been classified as that “fastest growing category of use”.

Many have overreacted, when it came to our countries water scarcity, but we do not disagree with the
fact that north china is struggling. What we must learn, is how to manage demand than providing
unlimited supply. Even Though china is currently building large supply infrastructures, the growing
demand on management has been significant.

Water allocation mechanisms has been increasing, including the launch of the china water exchange in
2016, aiming to facilitate water rights between regions and sectors. This experience is being used to
further develop the legal, policy and governance infrastructure that is needed to ease a water trading
market.

The demands through linked water infrastructures

has been managed by china, as well as the South-
North china water transfer project. There have been
hundreds of smaller water infrastructure projects
identified and that were under construction with the
aim of increasing supply and water systems wherever
possible. This is needed, in order for the water to get
to the places where it’s needed and where it must be
used. This action of physical infrastructure can be
known, as a “Nascent national water grid”.

Anther action china has made was to set US$330

billion aside, and to sue it to tackle the problem which had caused water scarcity in the first place,
extensive water pollution. The state council's water pollution prevention and control plan, and the river
chiefs system had taken place in April 2015. “The March” 2018 administrative reforms, including the
other actions that have taken place will further strengthen actions made to improve pollution statuses.

China has made progress. A survey shows that out of 15 firms, only one has reported water constraints.
Water usage limits are calculated based on historical water consumption For china not to struggle with
constrictions or quotas, firms must plan to increase production.

In conclusion, china does not need more water, but must learn how to handle it. Improved pollution
control and more proper use will hint signs of progress and success.
Chinadialogue Inc.