Water transfer schemes - China’s south-north water transfer

Question 1

China’s south-north water transfer

Answer 1

One of the largest water transfer projects in the world
Planning began in 1952, with work starting in 2002, and is expected to be completed by 2050

It aims to divert 45bnm³ of water a year from surplus river basins in the south and east to the north where there is frequent water deficits in places such as Beijing and Tianjin

The project will cost US$62 billion to complete and will involve the resettlement of people which is not popular

The 3 main diverting routes:
Western route - started in 2010, through difficult, high-altitude terrain. As the route will pass high industrial activity, it is feared that water will become polluted on transfer, as well as reduce the volumes in the Yangtze, causing issues with sediment and the ecosystem

Central route - this is a 1267km diversion with some of the water from the Three Gorges Dam being used in order help

Eastern route - this route is 1,155km long diversion from the Yangtze river next to Shanghai to Beijing and Tianjin in the north

The main stakeholders are the government sponsored ‘South to North’ Water Transfer Project Company and corporate civil engineering companies building 3 major canals, pipelines, tunnels and pumping stations