2 months, half a century, China suffered one of its worst drought in Hebei Province and Henan Province, 500 million people and 2.5 million livestock were affected. A chemical plant to the river dumping of compounds of the fun, resulting in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, more than 20 million people was cut off three days straight clean water supply. Shortly before the Olympic Games, many boat event venue, near the coastal city of Qingdao waters may be caused by algae pollution.

in China these little unusual. This has a long history of floods and drought facing the country today, more serious water crisis. After experiencing double-digit economic growth for many years and hundreds of millions of rural population into cities, China is almost unable to meet the sharp increase in water demand. China's lack of water resources, so that clean water and pollution have become more scarce. Another unknown factor is the effect of climate change.

one of China's biggest problem is water. Factories and the majority of untreated urban wastewater and pollutants discharged into rivers and lakes. According to the World Bank data, only the emissions in 2006 reached about 53.7 billion tons. China's environmental regulatory agencies will be 48 major lakes in China identified as "serious pollution." From two of China's largest rivers - the Yangtze and the Yellow River - the water extracted samples, was found a quarter of serious pollution, and even can not be used for agricultural irrigation. And tap water is not entirely safe, the Chinese government dealt with 48 cases last year, a serious environmental emergency. World Bank, energy, transport and water resources department Saguier Jamal said: "Of course, a wide range of water scarcity will have an impact on water resources Stephen. This is particularly true in China."

China large population is a serious problem. China's water resources per capita amount of all countries in the world is only about 25%. Huge gap between regions will complicate the issue. China Southern has a relatively abundant water resources, the annual rainfall of more than 2000 millimeters. Average annual rainfall in the north is only 200-400 mm. The public, Ma Jun, director of the Center for Environmental Studies (audio): "The North China Plain availability of water to a very low level, or even lower than the level of Israel." He added: "This region is China's political and cultural capital, important manufacturing and the seat of China's grain-producing areas. "

provide large subsidies to keep water prices low, which makes the problem worse. Experts said this practice led to a great wastage. Although China has in the past 20 years the average price of water increased by 10 times, but still well below world market prices. So that the global financial crisis has become more difficult to price reform. Saguier said: "The poor people in developing countries, water prices is a matter of life and death. This is a problem, because many people can not afford the higher cost of water, the implementation of the reforms will be more difficult."

According to World Bank statistics, China's total water consumption of about 65% for agriculture, but the actual inflow of less than half of farmland; the remaining missing from the water pipes in, evaporated, or the way in the loss of irrigation. Used in 25% of the proportion of industry, the majority have not been recovered. In contrast, developing countries, the average rate of return of income as high as 85%. With the influx of more Chinese cities, accounting for 10% of households may increase water consumption.

At present, the Chinese government to spend money trying to find a way out of the woods. China's Environmental Protection Department data show that in September last year, 2712 Water China has 7.46 billion U.S. dollars investment. Beijing has embarked on a cost of billions of dollars and full of controversial large-scale projects, the water south. However, due to environmental concerns, as well as about 30 million farmers (due to the construction of canals, pumping and purification established that these farmers must be removed) of the opposition, the project was delayed. Restrictions on a number of high-cost technology solutions: for example, to dilute the salinity of the water is not only expensive, but they need a lot of energy and energy is another scarce resource.