China's water crisis worst in the world: government official

[J-10]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051101/wl_afp/chinaenvironmentwater_051101041159
China's water crisis worst in the world: government official
Mon Oct 31,11:59 PM ET

BEIJING (AFP) - China's water crisis -- from severe shortages to heavy pollution -- is the worst in the world and requires urgent action, a top government official says.

China was "facing a water crisis more severe and urgent than any other country in the world," Vice Minister of Construction Qiu Baoxing told a conference in Beijing on developing China's urban water supply.

The construction ministry is responsible for supplying water to residents.

"We've got to solve the problem before it is too late," warned Qiu, according to the China Daily.

China's water supply is too small for its huge population of 1.3 billion people.

Its per capita water availability is about a quarter of the world average and it is expected to get worse, partly due to falling groundwater tables, the report said.

In addition, among China's seven major rivers, five are seriously polluted.

Waste was also a major problem, as more than 20 percent of the water supply in China's cities are leaked out from the water pipe networks, Qian Yi, a professor of environmental engineering from Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was quoted as saying.

"Shortsightedness in economic development accompanied with environmental destruction is still widespread in China," Qian said.

Vice Minister Qiu said the government has stepped up efforts to save water in the past 20 years and plans to carry out a number of measures to ensure water quality and supply.

The urban wastewater treatment rate will be raised from the current 45.6 percent to 60 percent in five years, with major cities reaching 70 percent, Qiu said.

The Ministry of Construction will also work with the Ministry of Health to put together a new set of standards for drinking water.

Market mechanisms will meanwhile be introduced to the urban water industry, Qiu said, adding that the government welcomes foreign investment to bring in cutting-edge technologies and management methods.

"We must take precautionary measures before the urban water ecosystem collapses," Qiu said.

[tsuri]

Well.. who would have thought that polluting the environment without even thinking of filters and building a huge dam would have led to water shortages? Damn these guys have adopted the short termed view of capitalism already.
If there is not enough water for 1.3 Billion People, then this might be Mother Natures way of telling us that we have become too many.

[Jedburgh]

If there is not enough water for 1.3 Billion People, then this might be Mother Natures way of telling us that we have become too many.
Liquid Assets: How Demographic Assets and Water Management Policies Affect Freshwater Resources (http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG358.pdf)
Most writings linking demographic trends to water availability often look only at population-growth effects, treating water supplies as static and population as increasing, inexorably leading to a water-availability crisis. This report’s broader view of the interaction between demographics and water resources considers more demographic and local water-availability variables. It focuses on conditions in developing countries, where these factors intersect with the fewest socioeconomic resources to mediate.

[b.scheller]

Well, communism in general, has been a policy of devestation to the environment. Although, capitalism, has been equally bad, it seems, that communism has done a worse job, when it comes to ensuring and protecting the environs. The natural environment of the Eastern Bloc, was systematically devasted by the policies of socialism, although, some of it, has bounced back, since the crumbling of the wall. None the less, it has been permenantly damaged to a degree, that some land is unusuable for agriculture.

I'm surprised, that even with the new policy of "Healthy News", that some Chinese officials are speaking out, about the environmental irresponsibility of the state, and the lack of logical thought upon their part, in ensuring that Chinese environment, is liveable.

Although, I think, more than likely, that this article, only paints a small picture of the actual truth. I highly doubt, that the Chinese government, would readily come out, and state that they have devastated the environment to that degree, I'm sure, that the actual truth, is more disastrous, and the devestation to the environment, is bigger than they actually claim.

It's interesting to note, that in the Western parts of China, desertification has been progressing, and is now in a rapid acceleration, due to the disastrous consequences fo collectivism and other irresponsible industrial policies of the Chinese state.

Fresh-water is a resource, that is inexhaustable, although, with recent trends of polluting the water, the amount of fresh, clean water, has also substantially lowered.

-b.scheller

[Darth Vidar]

Hmmmmmmm…..

I see a great opportunity here.

We sell the Chinese oil, why don’t we sell them water?

If its good enough for Madonna , Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz and Shaquille O'Neill, I think the people of China can drink it to.

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you “Voss of Norway”.

"The world's purest and sexiest water from the unspoiled nature of southern Norway" according to the producer.

http://www.vosswater.com/

and here:

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/business/article832025.ece

[b.scheller]

Tapping, into natural springs, or glaciers or other sources of fresh water, bottling it, and then selling that, on the market, is ethically questionable. Does a company, like Nestle or Pepsi, have a right to sell water?

Water, that's a renewable resource, that has been here, pre-humanity? Or is it just another step, towards total consumerism? Should water, be restricted from being sold in bottles?

-b.scheller