An integrated assessment of China's South—North Water Transfer Project

Abstract

Key insightsThe SNWTP is producing highly uneven regional effects. Its environmental performance is also mixed. An integrated assessment of the SNWTP problematises the role of interbasin transfers in sustainable water supply.[Correction added on 5 th February 2020, after first online publication: The key insight section was included] AbstractChina's South-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP) is a vast and still expanding network of infrastructure and institutions that moves water from the Yangtze River and its tributaries to cities in North China. This article aims to assess the SNWTP's impacts by beginning to answer seven questions about the project: How is the management of the SNWTP evolving? What are the problems to be resolved when managing SNWTP water within jurisdictions? What are the status and management of water quality in the SNWTP? What are the consequences of resettlements caused by the SNWTP? How is increased water supply affecting regional development? Is the SNWTP achieving its stated environmental goals? What are the sustainability credentials of the SNWTP? Drawing on primary and secondary data, the article demonstrates both that the opportunities and burdens characterising the project are highly uneven and that management systems are evolving rapidly in an attempt to enforce strict water quality targets. Furthermore, while the SNWTP may be helping to resolve groundwater overexploitation in Beijing, it is highly energy intensive, raising questions about its sustainability. Our analysis highlights the need to continue to interrogate the socio-economic, environmental, and political implications of such schemes long after they are officially completed.

The Effectiveness of the South‐to‐North Water Diversion Middle Route Project on Water Delivery and Groundwater Recovery in North China Plain

“…Some wells observed the GWS recovery during 2005–2014 (e.g., in Cangzhou City; Figure 6a), which was related to the success of localized groundwater management (Shang et al, 2016). A majority of wells in Beijing City observed the GWS recovery during 2015–2018 (Figure 6b), which was attributed to the reduction of Q p jointly caused by the replacement of Q d and the steady increase of recycled water use (He et al, 2019; Long et al, 2020; Rogers et al, 2019; S. Wang et al, 2019). Figure 6c shows the 2005–2018 monthly time series of GWS variations in NCP.…”

“…Since then, the recovery of groundwater level has been reported in some locations. For example, a recovery of 9 m from 2014 to 2017 was observed in the Huairou Waterworks in Beijing (He et al, 2019; Long et al, 2020; Rogers et al, 2019; S. Wang et al, 2019).…”

“…Their general findings were that the implementation of MRP could partially help the groundwater level recovery in small local regions only but unable to reverse the large‐scale groundwater depletion (Cao et al, 2013; X. Li et al, 2017; Y. Yang et al, 2012; Ye et al, 2014). More strict restriction on groundwater pumping (e.g., shutdown private wells) and more highly efficient utilization of water resources (e.g., develop water‐saving agriculture) will be required to alleviate groundwater shortage (Lei et al, 2018; Rogers et al, 2019; Xia et al, 2018; J. Yang et al, 2018).…”

A new framework for integrated, holistic, and transparent evaluation of inter-basin water transfer schemes

“…For example, the Indian ILR project will directly transfer water between India and Nepal, and will indirectly impact Bangladesh rivers, even though no direct IBWT infrastructure crosses into Bangladesh itself (Amarasinghe and Sharma, 2008;Misra et al, 2007). Rogers et al (2019) evaluated the potential impacts of China's ongoing South-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP) and concluded that continuous, long-term evaluation of socio-economic, environmental, and political impacts are necessary to truly understand the project's implications.…”

Are the Water Quality Improvement Measures of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project Effective? A Case Study of Xuzhou Section in the East Route

“…The east route of the SNWD project passes through three provinces and one municipality (Jiangsu, Shandong, Hebei Provinces, and Tianjin Municipality) and Xuzhou city in Jiangsu Province is a hub city of the east route [ 6 ]. Xuzhou is located at the border of Jiangsu Province, which is mainly water supply area, and Shandong province, which is mainly a water use area.…”