Pollution means China's thirst can't be quenched – no matter what is spent

Pollution means China's thirst can't be quenched – no matter what is spent


Jonathan Watts Friday 9 July 2010 17.30 BST

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2010/jul/09/china-yangtze-diversion-pollution

The Baoying Pumping Station in Yangzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu province is one of more than 30 pumping stations to be constructed in the province as part of China's ambitious South-North Water Diversion Project. Claro Cortes/Reuters

A 50-year plan to divert the course of the Yangtze, Asia's mightiest river - to solve droughts and shortages is falling foul of costly pollution clean-up plans

China's ambitious South-North Water Diversion Project : The Baoying Pumping Station In Yangzhou The Baoying Pumping Station in Yangzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu province is one of more than 30 pumping stations to be constructed in the province as part of China's ambitious South-North Water Diversion Project. Claro Cortes/Reuters

China's biggest hydro-engineering project – the £39bn South-North Water Diversion Project, is so contaminated by pollution despite the construction of more than 400 expensive treatment plants that water remains barely usable even after treatment, reports revealed this week.