S-N China Water Transfer Project

• $62 bn scheme launched in 2002
• Moves >44.8 m³ of water over more than 1000 km [12 trn gallons]
• Moves water along 3 distinct routes from Yangtze river basin in south to Yellow River basin in north
• Increased demand for water for economic growth in more arid North of China
• Population density is high so there is considerable demand for domestic water
• Water is essential for irrigating farmland
• Water deficit in North of country where over half of China's population lives
• Beijing's watertable falling at a rate of 5 meters per year = overabstraction
• Causes decreased water insecurity in North and increases support in economic development
• Increased food security as more water available for irrigation
• Health benefits from improved water quality
• Improved water supply for irrigation
• Additional water will help China cope with climate change
• Groundwater withdrawal is reducing as drilling of wells is prevented
• Moving water north is essential to reduce the impacts of desertification
• costs more than $60 bn so is expensive and money comes from taxpayers
• Doesn't address issue of water conservation as overconsumption will still happen
• Water going north is polluted
• Surplus in north and deficit in south
• Fossil fuels required to pump water
• > 300,000 people must be relocated, many of whom are farmers/fishermen i.e people who struggle to cope with new lifestyles which may not accommodate agriculture
• Ecological damage to natural environment
• Antiquities lost