Blue China: Water Management in China » Articles

Blog Action Day : Climate change

Emi — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:23:24 +0000

IPCC technical report and Water and Climate Change

http://www.blogactionday.org/

China is facing its worst drought in 50 years

Emi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:54:05 +0000

Severe drought in northern and central China (Photo:xinhua.net)

North China has experienced since November, its most severe drought in its history. Evidenced by the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters that has increased the alert level to a maximum level (from Grade 2 to Grade 1 Emergency Response to drought), 2 days ago.

According to the same Office, about 9.6 million hectares of crops have been affected by the drought nationwide, or 2.6 million hectares more than the same period last winter, meaning that the creepy drought the North encounters for few months, is now a severe drought.
10.33 million hectares (43% of the country’s wheat) are affected, including 1/3 heavily affected (1% of winter crops lost). But this should not affect food security in China, according to Mr. Li Guoxian, from the Rural Development Institut. Also, “the drought is expected to reduce wheat production by less than five percent,” said Ma Wenfeng, an analysis with Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant. Drinking water supply is also affected: 4.29 million people and 2.07 of one million livestock encounter drinking water problems.

Since November, the lack of rainfall in northern and central China causing unprecedented drought. The China Meterological Administration figures this gap between 50% and 80% compared to previous years. At Luoyang (Henan), a 80% drop in rainfall is observed compared to 2007. According to official figures, the lower reservoirs of the Yellow River reach between 3.4 and 14.6 billion cubic meters.
On 5 February, the central government launched a financial assistance of 300 million RMB, in addition to a previous aid of 100 million RMB. President Hu Jintao urged local governments to provide funds to increase the means of protecting crops and irrigation. “It is of vital significance to the overall economy to boost steady growth of grain production and farmers’ income as China is in a key stage to cope with the global financial crisis.”
Example of Anhui who planned to spray all surfaces of cultivation (1.6 million hectares) by 15 February. 300 million yuan had been spent by local authorities for relief materials. In Henan, the government has allocated 555 million yuan and plans to irrigate 4.7 million hectares of crops within 10 days.
Saturday, the government decided to divert a portion of the waters of the Yellow River in Henan and Shandong, and the Yangtze in Jiangsu Province. The cloud seeding to create artificial rain is also expected because the low rainfall this weekend in Shandong are not enough.

In the english newspaper Guardian (2009/02/04), Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs and author of China’s Water Crisis, said that to have more than 100 rainless days was a record in recent decades. But he added: “Water use in the region is not sustainable. We have seen rivers running dry because too much water has been diverted for farming and increasingly for urban and industrial use. We have seen the water table dropping steadily over the last three decades. Obviously this kind of drought adds insult to injury.”

From Le Monde, 2009/02/07: The intensity of the winter drought shows how China is vulnerable to the consequences of global warming: experts and Chinese and foreign environmentalists derive yet the alarm for years about the lack of structural water the country faces. Economic development at any cost, the lack of a more punitive tariff policy for consumers, pollution and inefficiency in agriculture have jeopardized its water safety and already broke the balance in the northern part of the country. Thus, irrigation in China continues to be practiced by flooding, a technique synonymous with waste of resources.

Premier Wen Jiabao inspects the growth of wheat at Yangbei Village (Photo:xinhua.net)

China to divert water from two longest rivers to ease drought – Xinhua.net

China fights worst drought in 50 years: articles, photos and videos – Xinhua.net

Chinese Premier Urges “Top Priority” on Drought Relief – China Radio Inernational

Rain, river diversion plans ease China drought – Reuters

Drought threatens Chinese wheat crop – Guardian

Une sécheresse sans précédent affecte le nord et le centre de la Chine – Le Monde

Ma Jun, an angry environmentalist in the “world factory”

Emi — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:22:16 +0000

“To know the color of fashion in the West, just take a look at the color of Chinese rivers.”
Ma Jun, 40, reports with a cynical expression this joke circulating among environmentalists in his country.
It is while watching rivers and many other devastated landscapes that this journalist of the South China Morning Post decided in the mid-1990s, to write to serve the environment. Successfully. His book on water crisis, “China’s Water Crisis” published in 1999 and translated later in the United States (2004), has been compared by Time Magazine (see link below) to the “Silent Spring” of Rachel Carson. So a reference, as the work of this American biologist, published in 1962, is considered as a milestone in the history of the environmentalism.

Today, Ma Jun embodies the conscience of the Chinese society who sees with concern that the development of its country is accomplishing by abusing nature. “Of course, economic growth plight millions of persons out of poverty, but at what price?” he wonders while stating: “60% of our rivers are polluted, the proliferation of dams destroys ecosystems, air quality is deplorable. This is simply unbearable. We can not continue to both respond to the explosion of domestic demand and be the factory for the rest of world. ”

Since 2006, when he established in Beijing the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) – which published the online China Water Pollution Map -, Ma Jun has made the reporting of environmental crimes its main hobbyhorse. “We can not accept that foreign companies produce or make produced in our country in total disregard for the environment, we must set limits” he says. By gathering data on air and rivers pollution, published by local and state government, Ma Jun and his three colleagues have prepared a list of 30 000 local and foreign companies acting in violation of the law. This obviously had not attracted only friends, and Ma Jun acknowledges the pressure of companies or local governments unhappy with this bad press.

His next step: convince multinationals not to use subcontractors who pollute. And Ma Jun says it is very simple, it needs just a click. All the information are on his list: IPE website.

Article translated from the French newspaper LeMonde, Oct.22, 2008.

Ma Jun, un environnementaliste en colère dans “l’atelier du monde” – Le Monde Wednesday, Oct.22, 2008.

Ma Jun by Ed Norton – Time Sunday, Apr.16, 2006.

China Water Pollution Map

Water Poverty Index (for the Blog Action Day)

Emi — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:32:00 +0000

Is poverty in a country influenced by its water resources? Do scarce water resources condemn necessarily that country? Many disclaim that a water crisis is emerging. A global crisis. But it is at local level, often the region of a country, this issue must be considered.
Where there is water shortage, there is still a kind of poverty. A lack of water leads to low industrial production, and an agriculture with hard development because irrigation is not or partially insured. The water availability is also essential for livestock and fishing, however small it may be. It also determines the personal feeding resources of a households as trees and home garden. And when resources are far, it takes tome to collect water which reduce time of the household for productive purposes.

To assess the impact of water scarcity on human populations, the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in Wallingford and the University of Keele have developped since 2000 the Water Poverty Index. Its has been designed as a monitoring tool, based on 5 components:

water resources availability related to population,

access to water (including sanitation),

capacity (with society concerns),

its use efficiency (for daily uses, industrial and agricultural purposes)

environment taking into account pollution, quality and biodiversity

So its includes both physical and -in a stronger way than the the Falkenmark Index (or ‘water stress index’)- socio-economic factors associated with water scarcity, as water poverty is linked to the human development. As a better water management can make a key contribution to poverty reduction, the WPI was designed to assess and monitoring the progress of the water sector at a municipality or district scale.

“The Water Poverty Index (WPI) was developed by a team of researchers, practitioners and stakeholders, led by CEH, to help to determine priorities for action and to monitor progress towards targets. The WPI is a holistic water management tool that is mainly relevant at the community level, but can also be applied at any spatial scale up to the basin or national levels.”
“This enables national and international organisations concerned with water provision and management to monitor both the resources available and the socio-economic factors which impact on access and use of those resources.”

The Water Poverty Index:an International Comparison

The Water Poverty Index: an International Comparison – Keele URL / Ref.:KERP 2002/19; Oct.2002

The Water Poverty Index – Centre for Ecology and Hydrology URL

Water scarcity: fact or fiction? Frank R. Rijsberman; 2007 – Science Direct URL

End Water Poverty Campaign website

China Drinking Water Market Report

Emi — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:06:18 +0000

One of the most significant market reports on chinese water was released last month. Research and Markets Ltd. has announced its publication on August 2008.

Here is the descriptive abstract.

“Healthy drinking water has become the world’s scarce resource. In China, water quality-induced water shortage is serious. With the improvement of people’s living standards, sales of drinking water have increased sharply, rising to 18.36 million tons in 2007 from 3.39 million tons in 1999. It is forecast that China’s sales of drinking water will exceed 30 million tons in 2010, and China’s drinking water market will continue to grow at a rate of over 10% annually in the following five to ten years.

Drinking water can be divided into several categories, including bottled water, barreled water, mineral water, purified water and distilled water. Barreled water has developed rapidly due to its advantages in purity, hygiene and convenience. In addition, its combination with water dispenser will be the rapidest growth point in the future drinking water industry.

From the perspective of market competition, MasterKong, Nongfu Spring, Wahaha and Robust are the leaders in the sector in China. In recent years, rapid growth of some medium-sized companies, such as Runtian, Maling and C’estbon have also had a fast growth, which deserve some concern. The report focuses on these companies.

Drinking water has very significant geographical features. Some factors like income level, company features and quality of water sources make drinking water in different regions has its own characteristics. Therefore, the report also makes a thorough study on drinking water market in some key regions in China.

In addition, the report makes an in-depth analysis on consumers, marketing strategy and key companies of drinking water sector, as well as associated industries of drinking water market. The report also gives you a full picture of current situation and development trend China’s drinking water sector in the coming years. “

From the Research and Markets Ltd website, China Drinking Water Market Report page link

World Water Week – China, not that much…

Emi — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:06:38 +0000

Since yesterday, and as each year, the Worl Water Week is held in Stockholm from the 17th to the 23th. This 2008 WWW will scrutinise progress and prospects in the efforts to build a clean and healthy world. Special attention will be devoted this year to the sanitation challenge and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal target on sanitation. August 17 – Anders Berntell, Executiv Director at the Stockholm International Water Institute

In 2006 and for the first time, a chinese team (Wang Hao, Weng Jie and Xiao Yi from the Shanghai Nanyang Model High School) won the prestigious International Stockholm Junior Water Prize with an innovative river-cleaning project. Stockholm Junior Water Prize Winners 2006 – video

Given the tremendous efforts that China has conducted in water field those previous years for the Olympic Games, I would have expected a greater participation of stakeholders, especially for today (Tuesday) which was devoted to Asia.

This day, the project of the Lake Dongting biodiveristy restoration will evocated: “Livehoods benefits from the Lake dongting floodplain restoration project” (LIFEN Li, WWF China/WWF International). CAILING Hu (Oxford University) will compete for the best poster award with a poster subject on “the challenges of rural drinking water supply, related to pollution control at local level in China”.

On Wednesday, ZHANG Yue from the Ministry of Housing and Rural/Urban development in the PRC (with the ADB), will speech about the chinese case in reuse of wastewater: “New frontiers in Sanitation/Panel 2/The Experience in PRC: Can China be a Leader in this Area?” The same day, the “case study on biogas toilets and use of methane in China” (presented by Mr. Heinz-Peter Mang) will be part of the workshop on changing climatic conditions.

On Thursday, Mr. Bobby NG, Asstistant Director at the Water Supply Division for the Government of Hong Kong will talk about “Developing a ‘Total Water Management Plan’ for Hong Kong”. This speech will be part of the morning seminars on the “Global Dialogue on the Creation of Sustainable and Reliable Water Supplies”. At last, chinese stakeholders and others concerned countries as India, Pakistan, Nepal…will discuss on the issue of climatic changes and its impact on the Himalyan water resources at the seminar “The Himalayan Water Towers – Resources Under Threat?”.

The Junior Water Prize will be awarded this evening and the Stockholm Water prize on August 21.The Best Poster Award will be presented during the Closing Plenary Session on August 22.

World Water Week 2008 – Official link

World Water Week 2008 – 08/08/19,The China Post

Ouverture de la Semaine internationale de l’eau à Stockholm – 18/08/08, Actu Orange

On-line docs

Emi — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:38:45 +0000

Here is a list of few on-line docs I found on the net. They show off a wide overview on issues of water management in China – and Asia. I picked them up from international institution editions as I think those organisms offer reports with overall level of informations.

Asian Water Supplies by Arthur McIntosh – 2003;198p.

Asia Water Watch 2015 – Are Countries in Asia on Track to Meet Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals by the ADB/Books, Periodicals, Studies, and Reports – 2006;63p.

Approaches to private participation in Water Servicesf by the World Bank with collaboration and funding from the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) and the Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership – 2006;347p.

Water supply and wastewater treatment market in China by the U.S. Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration – 2005;105p.

Environmental performance review of China – Conclusions and recommendations by the OCED – 2006;12p.

Non-governmental organizations in China – useful links

Emi — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:50:44 +0000

For the World Water Day, as this day focuses on associations and organizations that work for improvment of drinking water and sanitation, here are few links that take the statement of NGOs in China in account. Like anywhere in the world, China’s NGOs care about many fields such as environment, social projects, nutrition and of course, water. Their status seems to be a little complicated, as you will read in the next linked documents.

In China, non-governmental organizations (NGO), also referred to as social organizations, non-profit organizations or the third sector, have been growing fast in the last two decades. (source: World Bank – see below)

The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) variously refers to NGO as people organizations (minjian zuzhi 民间组织), non-governmental organizations (feizhengfu zuzhi 非政府组织), or social organizations (shehui tuanti 社会组织). According to the NGO Research Center at Tsinghua University, these three terms are actually synonymous. Additionally, the term private non-profit organization (minban fei qiye zuzhi), or minfei, provides an even more expansive definition of an NGO in China. Minfei organizations in China can include some hospitals, educational institutes and retirement homes, for example.
(source:NGOs – U.S.Embassy page)

China Development Brief’s database of over 200 International NGOs operating in China .

Challenges for young people at China’s NGOs

CASIN report – Non-governmental organizations in China, 2005

The World Bank and NGOs in China
The World Bank and NGOs in China (same page as above)

How to Deal With NGOs – Part I, China: Domestic and foreign NGOs in China are under close scrutiny over the past year.

NGOs in China – The third sector in the globalization process and social transformation Qin Hui – Tsinghua University

Philanthropy and the Third Sector Overview – China

List of NGOs in China (a Wikipedia page)

World Water Day. Is it today?

Emi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:41:26 +0000

The UN created the World Water Day in 1992, and since 1993, will be celebrated on the 22th of March every year. But today is the 20th, and the UN declare it as the 2008 World Water Day.
Nothing is gonna be posted for today on the subject. Just will wait til the 22th.

Blue water for Green Olympics – Part II

Emi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:49:07 +0000

Green everywhere for everyone.

Who says hosting nation of the Olympic Games, says big budget. And who says drought in that country, says big issues for water supply. Except for China? Officially, yes. The authorities in charge for water management in Beijing had claimed that the Games will not suffer from a lack of water. “Water demand during the 2008 Olympics will be guaranteed,” said Wu Jisong, director of the water supply program under the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, in 2006. And for good reasons. The gigantism of these Games is equivalent to those of Athens, which had necessitated the construction of many infrastructures, new subway lines, a tramway and some express roads! Despite the fact that Beijing needs new sport facilities, it is necessary that they are also green! Beijing wants to show the world that it was doing everything possible to get a facelift – and a “green” one. The UNEP report released a few months ago confirmed that Beijing authorities respected the wish of Green Olympics. According to the General Office of the Capital Afforestation Committee, 80 hectares of greens and parks will be planted in Beijing in 2008.
Water is the weak point of the City. Major efforts on a more efficient water management, environmentally friendly venues and education of Beijing citizens – especially in primary schools- for saving water, have been done. Any Olympic site uses the latest technology for the renewal of water. Biological treatments for domestic water have been installed. For each venue, rainwater is collected and treated for reuse in irrigation and cleaning roads. Many foreign companies (Veolia, Suez, Thames Water, Beijing Goldenstate, Autunes, Siemens ,…) have participated in this effort by equipping facilities and the Olympic Media Village.

Big Figures

Here are some figures that I was able to gather here and there. The Olympics are a big stake for Beijing. The city has decided to put the package to impress the world!

Beijing already spent more than 3billions of yuans for the Games preparation.

60 millions of flowers will be planted for the Games.
530000 trees were planted in the north of Beijing to green the city.
During 2008, Beiijing water needs will reach 3.89 billions cubic meters. Authorities said that 4.2 billions would be available. This represented a normal consumption plus 30%.
Rain this winter = 0cm. Snow = 0cm this winter.
Precipitations this year: – 70% from former years.
Aquifard water level in Beijing / Tianjin regions: -50 cm this year.
From Hebei, 300 millions cubic meters of water will be diverted for the back up during the OG.
2.5 million people in the regions around Beijing are suffering from lack of water.

Concerning venues built for the Olympic Games:
The National Stadium (Bird Nest) will collect and treat 80 tons of rainfall per hour, this will collect about 67000 cubic meters of rainwater and snow each year. 500 000 litres of drinking water will be produced per minute.
The National Aquatic Centre (Water Cube) will treat 60000 cubic metres of water per year from swimming pools. 10 500 cubic metres of rainwater can be reclaimed and 76% treated per year. In total, the venue will retreat 140000 cubic metres of water per year for reuse.
The Olympic Village is equipped with a pavement system for rainwater collecting. It can recover up to 3000 cubic metres of water and process for roads cleaning and irrigation purposes.
The venues built for the Games will collect a total of almost one million cubic metres of water. 60% of these waters can be reused.

http://www.planetark.org

http://news.bbc.co.uk

http://wilsoncenter.org

http://www.ajc.com

http://watercrunch.blogspot.com

http://www.unep.org

http://www.unep.org/downloads/BeijingReport.pdf

http://eg.china-embassy.org

http://www.treehugger.com

http://en.beijing2008.cn

http://www.chinapictorial.com.cn