South-to-North Water Transfer Project

Largest Water Diversion Plan to Kick Off The construction of China's largest water diversion project is expected to begin next year, channeling water from the Yangtze River for thirsty people and scorched lands to the north. The construction of China's largest water diversion project is expected to begin next year, channeling water from the Yangtze River for thirsty people and scorched lands to the north. The plan calls for 2,400-kilometre canals to be built in each of the first two phases of the project's east and middle lines to link the Yangtze to the drought-stricken north. The plan calls for 2,400-kilometre canals to be built in each of the first two phases of the project's east and middle lines to link the Yangtze to the drought-stricken north. By 2015, the project will divert some 16 billion cubic metres of water from the Yangtze into areas north of the Yellow River that includes the major cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang. By 2015, the project will divert some 16 billion cubic metres of water from the Yangtze into areas north of the Yellow River that includes the major cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang. 16 Jan 2001, People ’ s Daily

南水北调北京段全面开工 08 年黄河 水将调入北京 北京晚报讯（记者王军华）今天，南水北调中 线北京段应急供水工程十个单项工程之一 --- 北京 西四环暗涵工程正式开工建设，这标志着全长 80 公里的 2005 年南水北调中线北京段进入全面建设 阶段。西四环暗涵工程不仅要从五棵松地铁站下 方穿过，还将在西四环立交桥桩基中间穿过，施 工难度非常大。 北京晚报讯（记者王军华）今天，南水北调中 线北京段应急供水工程十个单项工程之一 --- 北京 西四环暗涵工程正式开工建设，这标志着全长 80 公里的 2005 年南水北调中线北京段进入全面建设 阶段。西四环暗涵工程不仅要从五棵松地铁站下 方穿过，还将在西四环立交桥桩基中间穿过，施 工难度非常大。 ( ) 北京晚报

Why is the project necessary?

Large-scale engineering works

East Line the east-line formula is to transfer water from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which flows northward along the northern Jiangsu section of the Beijing- Hangzhou Grand Canal and along other rivers and lakes and through the Yellow River in the vicinity of Dongping of Shandong Province into Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality. the east-line formula is to transfer water from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which flows northward along the northern Jiangsu section of the Beijing- Hangzhou Grand Canal and along other rivers and lakes and through the Yellow River in the vicinity of Dongping of Shandong Province into Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality.

Middle Line the middle-line formula is to divert water from the reservoir at the Danjiang River mouth on the upstream of the Hanjiang River, then flows across the valleys of the Yangtze, Huaihe, Yellow and Haihe rivers straight through a number of cities in Henan and Hebei provinces into Beijing and Tianjin. the middle-line formula is to divert water from the reservoir at the Danjiang River mouth on the upstream of the Hanjiang River, then flows across the valleys of the Yangtze, Huaihe, Yellow and Haihe rivers straight through a number of cities in Henan and Hebei provinces into Beijing and Tianjin.

West Line The west-line formula is diverting water from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River into the Yellow River, so as to solve the water-shortage problem facing the northwest region. The west-line formula is diverting water from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River into the Yellow River, so as to solve the water-shortage problem facing the northwest region.

Significance of the project strategic structural readjustment of the water resources of China's Yangtze and Yellow river valleys strategic structural readjustment of the water resources of China's Yangtze and Yellow river valleys reversing the passive situation featuring the serious unbalanced distribution of China's water resources. reversing the passive situation featuring the serious unbalanced distribution of China's water resources. Solve water shortage problems in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang Solve water shortage problems in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang new economic growth points will arise in regions along the line, particularly western regions new economic growth points will arise in regions along the line, particularly western regions

Questions to discuss What are the difficulties in constructing the West and Central routes for water transfer? What are the difficulties in constructing the West and Central routes for water transfer? What are the impacts of water transfer plan on Chang Jiang? What are the impacts of water transfer plan on Chang Jiang? Is it an effective measure to solve the water problems? Is it an effective measure to solve the water problems? Will the water transfer plan create other problems? Will the water transfer plan create other problems?

Benefits brought to Huang He Basin stop over-pumping of groundwater in the northern cities stop over-pumping of groundwater in the northern cities sustain wetland development and river ecosystem sustain wetland development and river ecosystem reduce the cut-off of the Huang He reduce the cut-off of the Huang He strengthen flood control of Han Jiang and protects Wuhan during floods strengthen flood control of Han Jiang and protects Wuhan during floods lessen silting of the Huang He lessen silting of the Huang He

Socio-economic benefits promote the economic development of northern cities and regions, e.g. Beijing, Tianjin, Huabei Pingyuan promote the economic development of northern cities and regions, e.g. Beijing, Tianjin, Huabei Pingyuan provide adequate water supply for industrial, irrigation and domestic uses provide adequate water supply for industrial, irrigation and domestic uses increase irrigated area increase irrigated area more job opportunities more job opportunities higher national income higher national income improve navigation, e.g. Hangzhou Grand Canal improve navigation, e.g. Hangzhou Grand Canal alleviates the constraint on urbanization in North China due to water shortage alleviates the constraint on urbanization in North China due to water shortage

Negative impacts on physical environment water pollution, leakage and evaporation occur during diversion water pollution, leakage and evaporation occur during diversion decrease in discharge of the Chang Jiang decrease in discharge of the Chang Jiang increase in silting and salinity in Chang Jiang increase in silting and salinity in Chang Jiang affect aquatic life during dry season in Han Jiang affect aquatic life during dry season in Han Jiang drowning of farmland and settlement due to increased dam height drowning of farmland and settlement due to increased dam height

Socio-economic problems caused by the water transfer project people are forced to resettle elsewhere people are forced to resettle elsewhere compensation to migrants is huge compensation to migrants is huge change of their lifestyles change of their lifestyles may cause water shortage in cities in middle and lower courses of the Chang Jiang during dry seasons may cause water shortage in cities in middle and lower courses of the Chang Jiang during dry seasons water charges increase in order to cover the project cost water charges increase in order to cover the project cost some water-polluting factories have closed down in Shandong, e.g. small-scale paper, tannery and winery factories, causing unemployment some water-polluting factories have closed down in Shandong, e.g. small-scale paper, tannery and winery factories, causing unemployment