CCTV9英语新闻：China to implement toughest water management（在线收听）

Tuesday marks the 24th World Water Day. On this occasion, we take a look at the water crisis China faces and what authorities call the strictest water resource management that is to be implemented this year. CCTV's Zhong Shi joins me in the studio with more details.

Q1. Zhong Shi, the Ministry of Water Resources says local officials will be held responsible for excessive water usage. How did this measure come about?

A1. For starters, while we may not feel the water shortage here in the city, the fact that China lacks usable water hasn’t changed. Water resources are estimated at 2.8 trillion cubic meters a year. Per capita water resources in China are just a third of the world average. Based on that reality, China has made plans to rein in the total amount of water consumed. This year, that amount is capped at 670 billion cubic meters. As for measures of intensity of water consumption, water usage per 10,000 yuan of GDP is to be slashed by 23 percent this year, from the year before. For water usage per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value, the cut will be 20 percent. These goals will be shared by each and every province. Those failing to meet the target will be held accountable. It will be a key factor in the performance evaluation of local officials.

Q2. China’s general water shortage is exacerbated by the overdraft of ground water. What are we doing to tackle the problem?

A2. Unfortunately that remains a worrying situation. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, as much as 300,000 square kilometers of land sees over collection of ground water with about 17 billion cubic meters of water considered overly extracted. Over mining ground water is an irreversible process that could lead to the weakening of house foundations. Most of these areas are located in North China, and suffer drought and low precipitation. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project provides a partial solution. Also a permit system puts a limit or a complete stop on collection in the areas where ground water is severely extracted