Water Transfer project

• Started in 2003 and expected to end in 2053
• Costs $62b
• 3 canals - running 1300km accross Easterm, western and central China
• Transfer of 44.8gm^3 of water / year
• Chinese government paid for 60% of it. Rest is provided by local authorities who will charge for usage
• Disadvantages:

  • 345,000 people relocated
• Disadvantages:

  • 3,500 companies closed
• Beijing requires 3.5b litres of water a year
• Disadvantages:

  • Droughts in Central china meant in spring 2011 Han River fell so low that people didn't have enough water for crops + drinking, let alone transferring up North
• 2/3 of all water currently for Beijing is from ground water
• Disadvantages:

  • Will submerge 370km^2 of land
• Disadvantages:

  • Eastern route is industrial so risks high pollution
• Advantages:

  • 70% of China's tapwater travelled through this project
• Advantages:

  • Maintains China's economic growth in the North
• Advantages:

  • Reduces groundwater abstraction