(October 9, 2008) Probe International‘s latest report is cited in an Economist article that describes how officials planned to divert water from Hebei province to Beijing for use during the Olympics, but instead waited until September 18th to begin the transfer.

The official reason for the delay was an unusual amount of rainfall in the capital, easing pressure on the water supply. However, the Chinese press says the rain has done little to replenish Beijing’s own reservoirs. Probe International Fellow Dai Qing says that Chinese authorities are highly secretive about water-supply data, but thinks that they used relatively clean groundwater to meet Olympic demand. With the games over, they are now turning to Hebei’s less dependably pure supplies.

The Economist, October 9, 2008