CHINA: THE WATER CRISISKeshav Kohli

The Triple Threat Flooding (South) Water Shortages

(North) Contamination by

industrial pollution

Severe pollution of Tai Lake in eastern China’s Jiangsu providence.

A Growing Demand

The breakdown: 78% Agricultural 18% Industry 5% Domestic

Domestic Demand

Household Consumption

Public Consumption

Livestock

Industrial Demand

Southeast, Yangtze, and Peal Basins in the south require more than 75% of the total industrial water demand.

Economic reforms of the 1970’s and 1980’s

Food and beverage industries; power plants; mining facilities

Agricultural Demand Rain-fed Agricultural

Uses Irrigated Agriculture:

covers 56% of total arable land and provides 67% of China’s total grain output Cropping Intensities:

Northern Basins: 135% Southern Basins: 200%

Water Shortages China has the same amount

of water as Canada, but with a population 100 times greater (The World Resources Institute)

Current policy failures in China's water management: underdeveloped system of water rights administration, weakness in water demand control, lack of market-based tools, and insufficient financing for pollution control.

In short, lack of infrastructure.

Water Contamination Arsenic

contamination of groundwater

Spread of Algae Increased

Industrialization Toxic spills

2006: 60% of China’s rivers cannot be used as drinking water resources (Magazine of the International Water Association)

Year Population (million, obviously)

Percent Urban Population

1949 542 -

1954 600 -

1964 700 -

1974 900 -

1981 1000 -

1988 1100 30.38

1990 1135 32.34

1995 1200 36.63

2000 1312 40.44

2087 1369 88.97

Jianfa Shen: The Rural-Urban Population Shift

Possible Causes

Sewage Crisis and Contamination 1996: more than 20

billion tons of urban sewage was discharged into rivers, lakes, etc.

Spitting on sidewalks contributes to sewage overflow

In effect, drinking water does not meet governmental standards

So What?

Health Related Effects: Liver and stomach cancer deaths have

doubled since the 1970’s China has the highest liver cancer rate in

the world Arsenic poisoning (Arsenic is a carcinogen)Economic Effects: Water scarcity in urban cities causes a loss

of about $11.2 billion (120 billion yuan) in industrial output