(August 17, 2009) One rainfall may create a new “Kunming Lake” in Beijing. Although rainfall for 2009 has been relatively less than that of prior years, rainwater collection projects across urban and rural areas have been playing a big role.
China moves 10,000 people for massive water diversion project
(August 17, 2009) Chinese authorities began Sunday relocating the first batch of rural residents totaling 10,600 in central Henan Province to make way for one of the three routes of the country’s massive South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
Beijing “borrows” water amid less precipitation
(August 13, 2009) Less rainfall has prompted Beijing to channel in more than 300 million cubic meters of water from the neighboring Hebei Province as of July, an official said here Wednesday.
Beijing citizens invited to express opinions about city’s water prices
(August 7, 2009) In an unusual move, Beijing’s Office of Legislative Affairs has invited the capital city’s residents to comment on a proposed fee schedule for "renewable" water or recycled water.
Groundwater overuse endangers Beijing-Shanghai railway
(January 25, 2004) The eastern plain in north China’s Hebei Province has a long record of groundwater over-exploitation. Now it finds itself home to the world’s largest acreage of subsidence.
Five areas of subsidence in Beijing
(August 4, 2009) Subsidence areas are appearing in Beijing, the result of long overexploiting the groundwater to the extent of about 100 million litres a year. Five main subsidence areas have emerged. They are already challenging city planning, as well as endangering residential conditions.
Beijing uses reclaimed water to replenish rivers and lakes
(July 23, 2009) Amid the heat wave, clean rivers and lakes such as the Kunyu River and Forbidden City Moat have brought some cool to the city of Beijing. Residents perhaps do not realize that the clean water in those rivers mostly came from recycled water.
Beijing to set up fee system for renewable water
(July 31, 2009) The draft stipulated that the price of Beijing’s recycled water would be specified by the price control department of Beijing Municipal Government in accordance with relevant national provisions, and would take effect after publication. If the price of renewable water cannot make up for water supply costs, the Department of Public Finance will establish a system of subsidy.
Beijing’s water drying up
(March 22, 2009) A province in north China that supplies Beijing with much needed water is itself facing serious shortages of the resource, state media reported ahead of World Water Day on Sunday.
Beijing Water Crisis: 1949 – 2008 Olympics
(June 26, 2006) Beijing’s policy of draining surrounding regions to ease water shortages in the ancient capital is akin to "quenching thirst by drinking poison," according to a new report by Probe International’s Beijing-based researchers. To keep water flowing to Beijing’s "green" Olympics this August, the water-strapped city is pumping water from four newly-built reservoirs in nearby Hebei province, depriving poor farmers of water for their crops.
Beijing’s water crisis
(March 15, 2007) In the short-term, the drought which lasted for most of the winter had surprisingly few effects on the lives of Beijingers bar a few newspaper headlines.
Beijing’s water crisis and economic collapse
(July 15, 2009) Beijing consumes more water than is deposited there by rainfall and snow and has been forced into major water mining projects. In the past, around 50 years ago, the city had numerous aquifers that could be tapped by relatively shallow wells of 2 to 3 meters. Now wells of 50 metres are required to access that water. Indeed of Beijing’s consumption of almost 4 billion cubic metres of water per annum, most still comes from the disappearing aquifers. The fear is that this source of water is rapidly drying up and that has the potential to plunge the capital into major water resource crisis.
Water Supplies for Beijing 2008 Olympics in State of Crisis
(July 1, 2008) We have heard about China’s air quality and pollution woes recently in the media , especially as the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games approaches. A new report released last week adds yet another dimension to China’s environmental concerns.
Beijing’s Water Binge
(June 27, 2008) Apparently Beijing is consuming water at the rate Marie Antoinette consumed petit fours and there is always a price to pay for such gluttony. Many news organizations (see, e.g., here and here) reported today on a new study, published by Probe International and written by a Chinese environmentalist, entitled “Beijing’s Water Crisis: 1949-2008 Olympics” which reads like a Temperance Union pamphlet.
Acute Water Shortage May Cause Beijing Exodus
(March 27, 2009) Chinese officials may be forced to resettle some of Beijing’s new arrivals over the next 5 to 10 years due to a population boom that accompanied both a rapid economic expansion and a decade-long stretch of yearly droughts.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 