CASE STUDY - China South-North Water Transfer Project

Question 1

How many routes have been completed?

Answer 1

2/3
Western Route - expected to be completed by 2050

Question 2

How much is the scheme?

Answer 2

$62 bn

Question 3

Roughly how much water will it divert?

Answer 3

Roughly 45bn cubic meters.

Question 4

Give a current environmental impact -
How has the water been affected?

Answer 4

Water can become polluted, harming plants and animals.

Question 5

What has happened to the Danjiangkou dam?

Answer 5

Had to be raised by 1/5m to store more water in the reservoir. Flooded more land - destroyed habitats + biodiversity.

Question 6

How do the water treatment plants impact the environment?

Answer 6

Energy intensive.
Uses lots of fossil fuels.

Question 7

What are the predicted environmental impacts?

Answer 7

Wetlands may become dry up north and drylands in the north could become wetter. Impact ecosystems due to habitat change.

Question 8

Give a stat showing how integral the transfer is to water supply

Answer 8

Central route supplies 2/3rds of Beijing’s tap water.

Question 9

Why was the western route postponed?

Answer 9

Due to quakes and landslides.