Three reservoirs in North China’s Shanxi and Hebei provinces began to divert water to Beijing Tuesday in an attempt to aid the thirsty capital.

The Cetian Reservoir in Shanxi as well as the Huliuhe and Yunzhou reservoirs in Hebei will supply 92 million cubic meters over the next 12 to 28 days, the Beijing News reported. Of that, the Guanting and Baihebao reservoirs in Beijing are expected to receive more than 80 million cubic meters.

In an attempt not to waste resources farmers along the affected rivers in Shanxi and Hebei have already dredged the waterways and harvested their crops, whilst water collection spots and sewers along the way have been closed.

With Beijing facing a serious water shortage it will no doubt welcome this transfer, the largest so far this year. The capital’s water volume per person is currently less than 300 cubic meters; anything less than 1,000 cubic meters is considered internationally as a water shortage.

Following repeated droughts over the past five years it took a total of 154 million cubic meters of water from other regions last year alone. Earlier this year, more than 100 million cubic meters of water were diverted from Beijing’s Baihebao Reservoir to the Miyun Reservoir, the only source of drinking water in the capital city.

Sources within the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Water Affairs said opinions are being solicited from the public about water-saving strategies to be released this month and water prices will be raised further next year.

(China Daily October 13, 2004)