Water shortage and needs for wastewater reuse in the north China

摘要

This paper analyzed the present condition of water shortage in the north China where annual rainfall is low and per capita water resource is below the line of regular water stress or even the line of absolute water scarcity. Water withdrawal in all the north basins is of high percent of the available water resource - Hai River basin mainly depending on interbasin water transfer and Yellow River and Huai River basins higher than 80%. Over withdrawal of water also results in serious water environmental problems including 'flow cut-off' of the Yellow River main channel and water pollution of many rivers. The paper also analyzed the potential of wastewater as a resource and demand for treated wastewater reuse. In north China, due to low rainfall and high potential evaporation environmental reuse (gardening, afforestation etc.) is considered to be the main usage of the treated wastewater. Considering the economic restrict in the less developed area, decentralized system can be taken as an important option in formulating water reuse strategies.