OVERVIEW

China possesses two of the world's longest rivers, the Yangtze and the Yellow River. Being the fifth richest in the world in terms of water reserves (after Brazil, Russia, Canada, and the U.S.) China’s total water reserve in 2004 was 2.4 trillion cubic metres, while the historical average was around 2.8 trillion cubic metres. The geographic distribution of water in China is uneven, with an abundant supply in the south, and regions of scarcity in the north.

China's present per capita water availability is 2,200 square metres, about a quarter of the global average. By 2030, the figure is likely to drop to 1,760. About 29.5 percent of China’s seven major water systems is classified third grade in terms of water quality, 44 percent fifth grade. About half of the ground water has been polluted to different degrees. In addition, there is also the problem of overdraft on underground water, which has resulted in sinking ground in some of the cities.

China is facing a serious water shortage. Limited resources, rampant water pollution and insufficient water-conservation consciousness plague China’s water sector. It is estimated that water shortage is affecting 400 out of 661 cities in China; 110 of these cities have a serious water shortage, on average another 6 billion cubic metres of water is needed in these urban areas annually.

Water shortage will become more serious in the coming years due to water pollution and increasing demand for water from industrial and agricultural sectors. According to Zhai Haohui, the Vice-minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, water consumption is estimated to reach its peak in Year 2030, when the total water consumption reaching around 700-800 billion cubic metres.

The water shortage across north China and east China’s Shandong province will be eased once the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is completed. The project will supply water to Shandong by 2007 and Beijing by 2010.

The total water usage in China was 554.78 billion cubic metres in 2004, 4.27 percent higher than that of the previous year. Eastern China region accounted for 38.7 percent of the total use, while Central region and Western region accounted for 28.7 percent and 32.6 percent respectively. The total wastewater discharge in China was about 69.3 billion tons in 2004, of which tow-thirds was from the secondary industry, and one-third from the tertiary industry and urban domestic.