Beijing [China], August 8 – China’s middle route of the South-to-North water diversion project has delivered more than 80 billion cubic meters of water benefiting nearly 118 million people across 27 cities as of Friday, according to the project operator.
The massive engineering project, the world’s largest inter-basin water transfer system was designed to ease chronic water shortages in northern China by diverting water from the country’s water-rich southern regions.
The China South-to-North Water Diversion Corporation said the middle route which has been in operation for nearly 12 years has strengthened drinking water security, improved the ecological health of rivers and lakes and contributed to national water security.
The diverted water now supplies nearly 80% of Beijing’s urban water needs while recipient areas in neighbouring Hebei Province account for around 70% of the province’s population.
According to the operator, water quality along the route has consistently remained at Class II or above while groundwater levels have recovered and aquatic ecosystems have improved in northern China. The project has also supported drought relief, agricultural irrigation and food security.
The South-to-North Water Diversion Project consists of three routes linking the Yangtze, Huaihe, Yellow and Haihe river basins. The middle route transports water by gravity from the Danjiangkou Reservoir to Henan, Hebei, Beijing and Tianjin.
