Shandong
Water source for southern Jinan in danger
Updated: 2010-03-24 14:21
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Wohu Shan reservoir, the main water source for the southern part of Jinan, is on the verge of drying up.
"These days Wohu Shan reservoir is hit by a heavy drought. Current water capacity of the reservoir is 800,000 cubic meters, less than one-fifth of the reservoir’s dead storage capacity,” said Zhang Renjun, director of the Wohu Shan Reservoir Management Department.
Zhang attributed the reservoir’s drying up to the inadequate rainfall.
"The year of 2008 saw less rainfall in the southern part of Jinan, resulting in small storage of water for the reservoir. The spring of 2009 was also dry, driving the reservoir to the edge of drying,” Zhang explained.
"23.39 million cubic meters of water were released from the reservoir to revive Jinan’s springs during the period from March to June in 2008. This water has not been filled up yet even in the flood seasons of the year of 2008 and 2009,” Zhang added.
Zhang was echoed by Shang Guangyu, an expert from Shandong Water Survey Bureau, who said that water capacity in Wohu Shan reservoir depends on the seasons and the main reason for the drying is the inadequate rainfall.
"Currently, daily water consumption in Jinan is 850,000 cubic meters, more than the reservoir’s current water storage,” Shang said.
Due to the inadequate water in the reservoir, people living in the southern part of Jinan are now using water from the Yellow River, according to Wan Jichang, a spokesman from Hongquan Water Co Ltd.
By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily Shandong Bureau)
Editor: Li Jing
