(Image Source: The Verge) BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE
China’s water is vanishing, and it is reportedly not linked solely to evaporation. The country
claimed to hold an estimated 50,000 rivers within its borders. Now, more than half of
them have abruptly disappeared.
The results from the first national water census were released March 28. It was conducted
by the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources.
“The study shows that since the 1950s at least one thousand rivers have been disappearing
from China’s landscape every year. Half of the rivers gone were over 60 square miles
in volume.” (VIDEO: NTDTV)
China’s engineers have been debating the cause for the vanishing water. Some argue
that it is the unsustainable growth of China, but the Deputy Director of the Chinese Ministry
of Water Resources told the South China Morning Post:
“The disparity in the numbers was caused mainly by inaccurate estimates in the past,
as well as climate change and water and soil loss. Due to limited technology in the past,
the previous figures were estimated using incomplete topographical maps dating back
to the 1950s.”
The United Nations lists China as one of the 13 countries most affected by water scarcity.
Official Chinese data shows that waste has led to 40% of China's rivers being seriously
polluted, causing over 24% of China's water supply to be deemed is completely unusable.
In an effort to alleviate the water shortage, the Chinese government remains intent on building
the South-North Water Transfer Project.
Newser reports with the water transfer project projected at $62 billion, they will divert
water from China's southern region to northern rivers. Officials hope the effort will provide
some relief to the northern region’s dire water shortage.
However The Verge says, Ma Jun, the director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and
Environmental Affairs, said he doesn’t see the transfer project as a long-term solution
that will be viable.
“They could run out of water without this project...but even the current volume of redirected
water likely won't be enough to keep up with demand.”
China has already implemented tougher regulations on usage and pollutants to try to combat the
ever-growing water problem. However, it remains to be seen whether China can enforce the regulations
across an expansive and fast-growing population.