June 27, 2023: What are these megaprojects? How will they help in combating climate change? Read Ahead to know more.
China is the world's most populous country and faces numerous water-related issues, including water scarcity, pollution, and natural disasters such as floods and droughts.
Climate change has worsened these problems, making it necessary for China to explore various solutions to ensure water security and mitigate the impacts of climate change. As of September 2021, China has been considering new water megaprojects in response to the challenges posed by climate change.
Currently, China is preparing for vast additional water infrastructure construction projects as droughts approach in the hopes that transferring more water across the nation would lessen the effects of climate change, but experts caution that further redirection of rivers may be unaffordable for the country.
In an effort to increase irrigation and reduce the danger of floods and droughts, authorities announced plans to construct a nationwide "water network" of additional canals, reservoirs, and storage facilities at the end of May.
State forecasts warn that central and southern China may have problems despite the fact that this year's drought is not anticipated to be as bad as last year's, when months of extreme heat dried up significant portions of the Yangtze valley.
Special precautions have already been implemented in certain areas of the southwest, with a water utility in the Liangshan County of Sichuan province advising people not to take showers more frequently than four times each month.
One notable water megaproject in China is the South-North Water Transfer Project, which is already underway. This project aims to divert water from the water-rich south to the arid northern regions of China, including major cities like Beijing. It involves the construction of canals, tunnels, and pipelines to transport water over long distances. The South-North Water Transfer Project is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the world and demonstrates China's commitment to addressing its water challenges.
In addition to the South-North Water Transfer Project, China has been exploring other water management initiatives. These include building new reservoirs, improving irrigation systems, implementing water conservation measures, and investing in desalination1 technologies. China has also been investing in research and development to explore innovative solutions to water scarcity and pollution.
Desalination1 is a process that turns salty water from the ocean or sea into fresh water that we can drink. It works by removing the salt and other impurities from the water, making it safe for us to use. Desalination is like a special filter that separates the salt from the water, leaving us with clean and drinkable water. It's an important technology that helps us get fresh water in places where there is a shortage of it, like in dry or arid areas.
Water resources per person in China are far lower than the global average, and they are also distributed unevenly. In order to get water from the flood-prone south to the dry north and find engineering solutions to its ongoing supply issues, it has long relied on large-scale infrastructure.
There are several steps in place to reduce demand. The use of water has been reduced, wastewater recycling has been improved, and pollution has been addressed by local governments.
State forecasts warn that central and southern China may have problems despite the fact that this year's drought is not anticipated to be as bad as last year's when months of extreme heat dried up significant portions of the Yangtze Valley.
Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources, stated that the strategy would "unblock the major arteries" of the river system by 2035, boosting the state's ability to even out water supply distribution.
However, according to experts, this strategy is not only expensive and destructive to the environment, but it might also make southern areas more susceptible to supply shortages and need the construction of extra infrastructure.
