China Achieves Significant Reductions in Groundwater Overexploitation

In recent years, China has made noteworthy strides in addressing the issue of groundwater overexploitation, as highlighted by government officials during a press conference. Zhang Xiangwei from the Ministry of Water Resources reported that the number of provincial-level areas experiencing groundwater depletion has decreased from 21 in 2015 to 18 today. Furthermore, the total volume of groundwater overexploitation has fallen by 31.9% when compared to figures from 2015.

A particularly remarkable improvement has been observed in northern China, which has historically been one of the most water-scarce regions in the country. Here, overexploitation levels have plunged by an impressive 85.8% since 2015. Evidence of this recovery includes data showing that shallow groundwater levels in specific regions, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, have risen by 3.19 meters, while deeper groundwater levels have increased by an average of 8.46 meters.

To maintain and build upon these achievements, Zhang indicated that China is committed to an integrated strategy that includes water conservation initiatives, reforms in industrial practices, and enhanced efforts for groundwater replenishment. This holistic approach is aimed at securing the ongoing recovery and sustainability of groundwater resources across the country.