China fights water crisis

China is to invest up to 4 trillion yuan ($600 billion) over the next decade to overcome a huge water shortage that threatens the country’s economic growth a senior official said on Wednesday.

China is to invest up to 4 trillion yuan ($600 billion) over the next decade to overcome a huge water shortage that threatens the country’s economic growth a senior official said on Wednesday.

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The vice minister of water resources said China’s unbridled economic growth had left up to 40% of its rivers badly polluted and the country faced “huge pressures” on supplies of water.

"Industrialisation and urbanisation including ensuring grain and food security are exerting higher demands on water supplies... while our water use remains crude and wasteful", Jiao Yong said at a press briefing.Over 46,000 reservoirs in China need to be rebuilt or reinforced to ensure constant water supply, he said.