Freshwater Availability in China as Well As

Freshwater availability in China as well as

the method of reducing its

undesirable ecological, social, and economic effects of future

1. Introduction

Water is not only related to human survial but it is one of the basic material conditions of social development as well. Although 70% of the earth covers with water, of the estimated 861 million cubic miles of water on the planet, barely 3% (twenty-six million cubic miles) is freshwater. As the most populous and the fastest economic growth country in the world, Chinese freshwater availability is on the brink of serious disruption. More specifically, in recent years, with the accelerated process of industrialization, the irrational exploitation and use of freshwater resources have become an increasingly serious problem in China. The freshwater crisis in China threatens human lives and economic development. In this essay, I will expound the status of freshwater availability in China and analysis the following effects, and then, conclude the methods of how to use economic insruments to conserve and manage freashwater resources effectively.

2. The status of freshwater availability in China

Freshwater is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Freshwater is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water although it does include mineral rich waters such as chalybeate springs. Freshwater not only restricts the social and economic development but also restricts the quality of human existence and survival, it is irreplaceable by any other resources.

There are many causes of the apparent decrease in our fresh water supply. Principal amongst these is the increase in population through increasing life expectancy, the increase in per capita water use and the desire of many people to live in warm climates that have naturally low levels of freshwater resources. Climate change is also likely to change the availability and distribution of freshwater across the planet.

2.1 Low per capita possession of water resources

According to the AQUASTAT, the problem of freshwater resources in China is extremely serious. Compared with many countries in the world, China is rich in the total freshwater resources (sixth in the world), however, due to the vast territory and large population, per capita consumption of freshwater in China