Protecting water resources (China Daily) Updated: 2004-04-10 09:53
The country's water resources are in an urgent need to be protected,
according to an article in Guangming Daily. An excerpt follows:
China is facing a serious water shortage. It is estimated that water
deficiency is plaguing 400 out of China's more than 660 cities with the
situation ever-worsening in 110 of them. Annually, another 6 billion cubic
metres water is needed in urban areas.
Besides water shortage, pollution of water resources is another worrisome
issue.
Monitoring of the country's seven major water systems shows only about 29.5
per cent of water would reach third grade standard for treatment of water. And
the quality of 44 per cent of water belongs to the fifth, worst grade.
Meanwhile, about a half of ground water has been polluted to different degrees.
In addition, there is also the problem of overuse of underground water, which
has resulted in sinking of ground in some cities.
Water shortage is a worldwide issue.
As the most populous country in the world, China also suffers seriously from
the scarcity of pure water. Because of the lack of a water-conservation
consciousness for a long time, the country's water resources have not been used
wisely and protected enough. According to experts, the public is accustomed to
extensive water use and the potential for water saving is huge.
So building a water-saving-conscious society is the strategy for seeking
sustainable development.
The public should improve their customs of water use, keeping conservation in
mind.
The government should strengthen its macro-control of water resources and
prevent and control environmental pollution. Monopoly in the water industry
should be broken. A unified system of supervision of water resources should be
set up to create effective management nationwide.
Water prices should be adjusted in line with the seasons. In water-deficient
areas, extra taxation should be levied to limit water use.
Meanwhile, optimizing the allocation of water resources should make full use
of the market mechanism. It is estimated that there will be trillions of yuan of
business opportunities in the market, among which sewage treatment will comprise
a market share of 400 billion yuan (US$48.3 billion). And water resources should
not be regarded as a welfare benefit but as a commodity.
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