Case Studies: Water: China South - North transfer project Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the aims of the South to North transfer project?
Transfer significant quantities of water from China’s humid South to the arid North
How much did the scheme cost?
$62 billion
How much water was it designed to move over what distance?
12 trillion gallons of water over 1000km
What year was the scheme launched?
2002
How many routes are there?
3
Which rivers does the transfer scheme move water from and to?
From the Yangtze River basin in the South to the Yellow River basin in the North
Why was the South-North water transfer project introduced?
The North of China is the centre of population, industry and agriculture, this led to the per capita share of the region’s limited water resources to continue to fall
Name four reasons the project was introduced?
Water is needed for irrigating farmland
Population density is high in the North
Significant demand for water for economic growth in the North of China
The water table below Beijing is falling at a rate of 5m per year due to over-abstraction
Name four advantages of the project.
Reducing water insecurity in the north and supporting economic development
Health benefits from improved water quality
Food security improving as more water available for irrigation
Help China to cope with climate change
Groudwater withdrawal is reducing
As water is available for irrigation this will lead to ………… ………………… improving
Food security
What can help support economic development?
Reducing water insecurity
Name four disadvantages of the project.
Displacement due to construction of dams and reservoirs
Ecological damage to the natural environment
Earthquakes could lead to damage to the scheme
Significant cost for taxpayers
Evaporation from canals and reservoirs
What may the construction of dams lead to?
Displacement of people
