Pollution and inefficient use is worsening the drinking water
shortage in Guangdong Province, scientists said Tuesday.
Zhang Hong'ou, president of the Guangzhou Institute of
Geography, which recently completed a study of drinking water in
the province, said that the shortage threatening Guangdong - the
country's manufacturing powerhouse - will mean that in three years'
time, only a third of its water demand will be met.
By 2020, the shortfall will widen to about half of the
province's water demand, or more than 3.1 billion cu m, if no
measures are taken to address the problem, Zhang said.
These worrying signs come even as the country identified
drinking water as a top priority in its environmental blueprint
released on Monday.
Zhang said Guangdong possesses abundant water resources - its
surface and ground water supplies are more than three times the
country's average levels.
But pollution has caused the crisis the province is now
facing.
Figures have shown that more than 17,000 cu m of sewage are
discharged into rivers throughout Guangdong every year, the China
News Service reported.
At least 16 million residents, or nearly 14 percent of the
population of Guangdong, are facing water shortages because of
pollution.
Chen Junhong, a professor at the geography institute, told China
Daily yesterday: "The authorities need to strengthen enforcement
efforts to punish polluters and encourage water-saving
measures."
The problem is exacerbated as some local governments neglect
calls from higher authorities to combat pollution and continue to
allow heavy-polluting companies to set up shop for the sake of
economic growth, he said.
Meanwhile, the State Environmental Protection Administration
said in a draft regulation that fines for some polluters of water
resources have been raised by up to five times the previous amount
to 500,000 yuan ($68,000).
However, Chen said some companies were resisting the use of
technologies to clean sewage before discharging it into waterways
due to the extra cost.
He said more severe punishment such as criminal charges are
needed to address the problem.
Zhou Yongzhang, director of the Center for Earth Environment and
Resources at Sun Yat-sen University, suggested the authorities put
more emphasis on protecting water resources and raising awareness
among residents to protect their water resources.
Zhang said studies should be done to find out the best way of
protecting the ecology of reservoirs to ensure long-term water
supplies.
(China Daily November 28, 2007)