Eaux en Chine - Protection de cette ressource précieuse

Water in China - The protection of this precious resource

Information Research Institute, Ministry of Water Resources, P. R. China

Abstract

The history of water management in China is a long way to remedy the inhomogeneous repartition of water in the country. Since about ten years the rapid growth of economy and urbanization has sent a new challenge concerning the water management. The soil erosion worsening and the natural reservoirs exploiting have increased the necessity of the battle against the floods. In the towns, the water demand growth is exceeding the capacity increase of drinking water plants. In much areas of the country the water pollution is a crucial problem. Moreover the investment and the water management reform has an influence on the economic global development. The global objective of China is to reach the average standard of living of the industrialized countries. Nowadays the water problems in China are : the floods in the South, the water shortage in the North and the pollution. These problems are considered as an obstacle to sustainable development. It is therefore necessary to take measures in order to guarantee a sufficient water supplying.