Diversion project seeks to alleviate water shortages
An ambitious project to build 28 lakes and a supporting system of waterways will be implemented by the government of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, in an effort to better the city’s environment and living conditions.
According to the Xi'an water bureau, the project aims to protect, renovate, upgrade and build five water-diversion projects, seven wetlands and 10 river systems which will support the establishment of 28 man-made lakes.
"To provide a lush and fresh environment for the city, the project, with an investment of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.58 billion), will be completed in the following 10 years," said Yang Li, director of the water bureau.
Construction on 13 of the 28 lakes, covering a total area of 30 square kilometers, has been completed, while the remaining 15 lakes will be built in the coming five to 10 years.
The city of Xi'an suffers from a severe water shortage. The per capita share of water resources is only one-third that of the province and one-sixth that of China.
The city used to have rich water resources, with eight nearby rivers and a number of lakes, when it was the capital of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).
About 2.1 to 2.4 billion cubic meters of water flows from Qinling Mountains, a large mountain range located south of the city every year, while the city’s total water demand is less than 600 million cu m, said Wang Gushi, director of the planning and technology section of the Xi'an water bureau.
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