Shortage of water resources, aggravation of water pollution,
over-exploitation of underground water and low efficiency of water
usage have continuously sharpened the imbalance between water
supply and demand in China. Currently, two-thirds of all Chinese
cities don't have enough water all year round.
During a recent Sino-British Water Supervision and Management
Mechanism Seminar, Zhai Haohui, Vice Minister of Water Resources,
revealed that more than 400 of the nation's cities suffered from
insufficient water supply, and 110 of these faced a comparatively
severe situation. He placed the total annual urban water shortage
at 6 billion cubic meters.
Zhao said the Chinese population expected to peak at 1.6 billion
by the year 2030, when the per capita water resource figure would
only amount to 1,750 cubic meters a year, one of the world's
lowest. At that time, annual total water usage is expected to
amount to 700-800 billion cubic meters. The pressure of demand on
water supply capability will have increased by 130-230 billion
cubic meters by then.
But, the water resources available for actual use are already
near their upper limit and development of further resources poses
many difficulties, he added.
Zhai said that to realize the goal of rational allocation and
sustainable development of water resources, local governments would
have to establish water management administration integrating urban
and rural flood control, water resources, water supply, water
usage, water drainage, and wastewater processing and recycling.
Currently, over 50 percent of the administrative areas above
county-level in the country have already done so.
Zhai added that following the issuance of a series of policies
on municipal public undertaking reform, China's water industry will
gradually establish a water management system that involves the
separation of the functions of the enterprises from those of the
government. It will establish a special permission system for the
water industry and realize its market potential, as well as the
legalization of industrial supervision and management.
(China.org.cn translated by Li Jingrong September 26,
2003)
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