බෙයිජිං වලට වතුර අදින 'දකුණෙන් උතුරට' ජල ව්‍යාපෘතිය

China's mega water diversion project benefits 16 mln people in Beijing

The initial stage of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project's middle route has benefited more than 16 million people in Beijing, the company responsible for the project said Wednesday.

As of 15:20 on Wednesday, the route has transferred 10 billion cubic meters of water to Beijing since it began supplying water in December 2014, according to the company.

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project transfers water from China's water-rich south to the arid north through middle, eastern and western routes.

The middle route has been essential for maintaining water supply to the capital city as it underwent major developments over the past decade, including the opening of a major airport in the city's less densely populated south.

"More than 70 percent of Beijing's urban water is supplied by the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The annual per capita water resources in Beijing have increased from 100 cubic meters to about 150 cubic meters, which has greatly alleviated the capital's water shortage, effectively improved the city's water security, and also provided water for key areas such as the city's sub-center and Daxing International Airport," said Wei Yaoguo, the deputy general manager of the China South-to-North Water Diversion Corporation's middle route company.

After years of steady progress, Beijing benefits now from a sound water system, with further developments still incoming.

In the city's north, the suburban district of Changping's first water plant to use the South-to-North Water Diversion Project as its water source recently completed commissioning. After its official operation, the plant will serve 600,000 residents. So far, Beijing has 15 water plants that receive water provided by the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

Residents said the project has improved water quality.

Currently, Beijing is able to keep a stable maximum water supply capacity at about 1.3 times the average water demand, while the daily processing capacity of water from the south has reached 4.7 million cubic meters.

By helping to satisfy the city's demand for water, the project has also been a boon for the Beijing's natural waterways, with local rivers regaining vitality and groundwater levels rising significantly.

"From this chart, we can see that from 1999 to 2007, Beijing experienced a nine-year drought. During this period, the groundwater level in Beijing had been on the decline year by year. After the water of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project was diverted to Beijing, we have ramped up efforts to control groundwater extraction and carried out ecological water replenishment in a timely manner, so that the groundwater becomes well-conserved. Especially since 2015, the groundwater depth has risen from 25.75 meters to 14.74 meters in 2023," said Zhao Hongyan, the chief of the groundwater monitoring and evaluation section at Beijing hydrological station.

Beijing's five major rivers, which would previously dry up for extended periods of time, have all once again gained steady flows after 26 years, and have flowed into the sea for three consecutive years. The length of rivers with water has increased by 464 kilometers compared to 10 years ago.

"We follow the principles of 'using the best water for the best use' 'using water for different purposes according to its quality' and 'using water in the order of conservation, drinking, storage and replenishment'. We give priority to making full use of the water transferred by the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, and put water we have taken from local rivers back to them. As a result, the ecological environment and biodiversity of rivers and lakes have been greatly enriched and improved," said Li Shu, the chief of the dispatching management section at the Beijing Water Resources Dispatching Management Affairs Center.

The country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project has three routes. In addition to the middle route, the eastern route transfers water from east China's Jiangsu Province to areas including Tianjin and Shandong, whereas the western route is at the planning stage and is yet to be built.

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