Province-wide efforts to find water amid drought
February 8, 2012, 08:10:52
Source: People's Daily
On February 8, the Wuhua District Water Conservancy Bureau of Kunming City delivered water to villagers of Jiopaipu in Changkou Community. Photo by Wang Jihong.
Urban water supply is under strain, with water restrictions in place in Kunming, Qujing, and other areas.
The shortage of rain due to drought has caused water tension, bringing inconvenience to people's daily lives. "Starting from late February, Kunming will implement a planned and zoned water supply system with time-limited water provision. Based on the development of the drought, while ensuring basic living water needs, we will adjust the urban water supply pressure as appropriate, moderately reduce the water supply volume, and ensure urban water supply safety," said Vice Mayor of Kunming, Dao Xing.
According to reports, as of February 4, the water storage in Yunlong, Songhuaba, Baixianghe, Dahuhe, Chaihe, and Zhaiweicun reservoirs, which are sources of water for Kunming City, was only 132 million cubic meters, a decrease of 57% compared to the same period last year.
Based on calculations, from February 4 to May 31 this year, after implementing water-saving measures saving 50,000 cubic meters of water per day, Kunming’s average daily water demand would be 900,000 cubic meters, requiring a total water supply of 106.2 million cubic meters. The actual available water volume in Yunlong and Songhuaba reservoirs is only 73.17 million cubic meters, leaving an original water deficit of 33.03 million cubic meters. Even with expected rainfall and emergency water source project replenishments, there remains an original water deficit of 1.21 million cubic meters.
Even if the rainy season arrives normally this year, it won't form runoff until the end of June. Therefore, the original water supply after the end of May still has uncertainties. Additionally, the water quality of urban water source reservoirs running at low water levels is poorer, posing a risk of non-compliance with standards, making the situation for urban production and living water security severe.
According to the reporter's understanding, Yunnan's second-largest city, Qujing, proposed in its urban water supply plan from September 1 last year to June 30 this year, to implement zoned, timed, and limited water supply for all towns, restrict or even stop water usage for high-water-consuming industries, implement tiered water pricing, and vigorously promote recycling water measures such as reclaimed water reuse.
By the end of 2011, Qujing's Qilin central urban area had already closed down 216 high-water-consuming enterprises such as bathing centers and car washes. The Qilin central urban area reduced the daily per capita water consumption plan from 120 liters to 80 liters.
Using advanced geophysical exploration equipment to search for groundwater, ensuring drinking water safety.
The serious drought has drawn high attention from the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government. Provincial Party Secretary Qin Guangrong, Acting Governor Li Jiheng, and other provincial leaders have held multiple special meetings and conducted inspections and guidance in severely drought-stricken disaster areas.
The provincial water conservancy department has set May 31 as the deadline, starting from water supply-demand balance analysis, urging all regions to compile urban-rural water supply plans based on existing drought-resistant water sources, clarify urban-rural water supply safety responsibilities, and refine and implement emergency water supply measures.
Currently, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Land and Resources has organized 79 drilling rigs to carry out underground water finding work, constructing 79 deep wells, with more than 20 wells already completed and accepted, with a daily water output of over 6,300 cubic meters, alleviating the drinking water difficulties of about 85,000 people.
Recently, experts used internationally leading geophysical exploration equipment for the first time in Yunnan to search for groundwater. These devices can detect geological conditions from 100 meters to 2,000 meters underground, helping quickly determine well-drilling locations.
The drought-affected cities, counties, and districts have also actively responded. Kunming's Guandu District allocated 500,000 yuan in funds to build one fixed and one mobile artificial rain enhancement operation point. At the same time, farmers were guided to adjust their agricultural planting structure, focusing on drought-resistant crops like barley for irrigated land short of water. Kunming's Wuhua District improved the utilization rate of reclaimed water, conserved water, and did a good job in drought resistance and water supply protection, actively promoting the local treatment and reuse of discharged sewage.
Dayao County in the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is an old drought area in central Yunnan. Since the beginning of this year, Dayao County has implemented the administrative chief responsibility system for reservoir water storage, adopting various measures such as storing, diverting, pumping, and transporting water to actively increase drought-resistant water sources.
Relevant departments predict that the possibility of large-scale severe drought occurring is relatively high.
Since 2009, Yunnan has experienced three consecutive years of major droughts. Relevant experts from the Yunnan Meteorological Bureau explained that during these three years, the precipitation during the rainy season in Yunnan was less, causing continuous meteorological drought. The main reason is the continuous abnormality of the summer monsoon affecting Yunnan, reducing the amount of moisture transported to Yunnan, while also decreasing the low-value convergence systems caused by the monsoon, resulting in weaker convection over Yunnan, and the position of the Western Pacific Subtropical High being unfavorable for Yunnan's precipitation.
After mid-January this year, the South Branch Trough became unstable and turned weak, which is not conducive to the transport of warm and humid air currents from the southwest. Under the control of dry and warm westerly airflow, most parts of Yunnan continued to experience sunny weather without precipitation. Coupled with higher temperatures and larger evaporation rates during the same period, this has caused the recent rapid development of meteorological drought in Yunnan.
According to comparative analysis by the Yunnan Meteorological Bureau, due to less rainfall in the past three years and insufficient water storage in reservoirs and ponds, especially the more severe situation of water storage in reservoirs and ponds in central Yunnan and eastern regions, the degree of drought impact will further intensify. According to weather forecasts, in early February, apart from some cloudy days or partial light rain in eastern Yunnan and northwest Yunnan, most parts of Yunnan will continue to experience clear and cloudless weather.
Meteorological and hydrological departments analyze and predict that Yunnan is currently in a high-frequency drought period, and the possibility of large-scale severe drought occurring in the near future is relatively high.
It is understood that within this month, Yunnan's winter crops will gradually enter the critical water-demand period and the low-temperature sensitive period. Combining agricultural affairs with weather conditions, meteorological experts suggest that all regions should continue to closely monitor the development trend of drought and pay attention to water conservation and drought resistance.
According to the introduction, the Yunnan Meteorological Department has further strengthened monitoring, analysis, evaluation, and service work related to drought and soil moisture; all levels of artificial weather modification units across the province are ready to seize favorable opportunities to actively carry out artificial rain enhancement operations to increase water storage in reservoirs and inflow into reservoirs. (Reporters Xu Yuanfeng, Hu Hongjiang)