China's water supply is becoming a serious environmental issue, with at least 300 million Chinese people denied access to clean water. It is a crisis that is expected to only get worse in years to come.
The problems are complex, but they emanate from the country's escalating economy. Industry, agriculture and households are consuming more and more water, which is now in short supply over much of the country – especially in Northern China.
The desert is spreading
When used water is recycled it is often polluted with toxic chemicals. Many Chinese have no option but to drink it, consequently risking serious illnesses. Intense erosion is transforming large areas of the country into a desert, increasing water problems even more.
China's government is now actively engaged in tackling the water crisis that is threatening the country's economy and the health of its people. By entering into a partnership agreement with the EU, the Chinese authorities are making progress towards more sustainable management and use of the country's two largest river systems. Both the Yangtze River and the Yellow River are suffering to a greater or lesser degree.
Still achievable
As part of a consortium managed by DHV in Holland, COWI is running this five-year project, one of the largest planning projects in the EU framework.
"The river systems and water environment have been under pressure for years, but the pollution has deteriorated dramatically over the past ten years because of strong, unrestrained growth. During this transition phase the authorities have had difficulty protecting the environment. Now it's time to tip the balance between growth and development in favour of better water management with a stronger bias towards environmental awareness and protection," says Jan Agerholm Høybye, project manager at COWI.
Cooperation between China and the EU will also help to chart the sources of pollution of the two rivers and find concrete solutions to their environmental problems. By Eva Isager, jaje@cowi.com Published: 26.04.2007