Case study - Pressure on water supplies Beijing-Tiajin region China

Question 1

What is happening to Beijing?

Answer 1

Beijing may soon run out of water
Each year gap widens between demand and supply - wells drying up, groundwater and rivers becoming polluted = ground subsidence worsening

Question 2

Why?

Answer 2

1. Physical = Beijing is located means prone to flood + recent years drought - numerous dry years can occur
2. Human = 16 mil people est live in Beijing, 11mil in Tianjin = huge demand for water + increase in rural-urban migration could make things worse

Question 3

What water supplies does Beijing use?

Answer 3

1. Beijing draws 60% of water supply from aquifers = overexploited but water quality is acceptable
2. massive use of abstraction after series of drought 1970-80
3. Tianjin relies on groundwater for about 30% of water supply, but salt water incursion makes water brackish
4. surface waters supply depends on 5 major rivers which enter Hai He River system - upstream withdrawals + contamination of rivers had negative effects on downstream cities
5. Beijing also makes things worse through pollution and abstraction
6. aqueduct been created to divert water from Three Gorges Dam to Beijing/Tianjin region

Question 4

3 reasons why for increased demand for water

Answer 4

1. demand for region around 4.9 billion m3 per year + continues to rise
2. agriculture account 65% - though is levelling due to water-saving tech
3. Industrial output in region increased - industries have now become more water-efficient and recycle their waste water + shift from heavy industry to high-tech industry
4. fastest rate of increase is domestic use = consumption increased + average demand on 240 litres per person each day