China has witnessed remarkable progress in water management over the past decade, achieving significant advancements in water conservation, efficient usage, and improvements in flood and drought prevention, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Total water use in China has been maintained below 610 billion cubic meters over the past ten years, while water consumption per 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,405) of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased by 41.7 percent, and water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value dropped by 55.1 percent, Chen Min, vice minister of water resources, announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
Chen highlighted that the water supply capacity of newly added water conservancy projects reached about 200 billion cubic meters over the past decade, which is three times that of the previous ten years.
Furthermore, newly added irrigated farmland area has reached around 87 million mu (approximately 5.8 million hectares), bringing the total effective irrigated farmland area across the country to 1.055 billion mu (around 70 million hectares).
China’s flood control and drought resistance capabilities have significantly improved due to strengthened early warning measures and enhanced flood control projects, Chen noted.
In rural areas, tap water accessibility has increased to 90 percent, marking a substantial stride in ensuring water security for rural residents over the past decade.
Looking ahead, Chen stated that China will continue to engage in comprehensive, high-quality water management to ensure water security, thereby supporting national development and modernization.
Reference(s):
China has made great progress in water conservation, use: official
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