10 years of South-to-North Water Diversion Project: Enhancing water supply and ecological restoration

In central China's Henan Province, the city of Jiaozuo exemplifies the benefits of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project for local communities. As the only city where the central route runs directly through the downtown area, Jiaozuo has seen substantial improvements in both its water supply and ecological environment.

Since the project began in 2014, the city has received over 430 million cubic meters of water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir in Hubei Province, addressing local water shortages and enabling the city to shift from a coal-based economy to a more sustainable, eco-friendly model.

The transformation is reflected in the creation of a 10-kilometer green corridor along the canal, which serves as a recreational space and an integral part of the local ecosystem. Additionally, over 60 million cubic meters of water have been used for ecological replenishment, benefiting both the city's water systems and surrounding ecosystems.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project has transferred a total of 76.7 billion cubic meters of water, benefiting more than 185 million people across 45 medium-sized and large cities, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources at a press conference held on Wednesday by the State Council Information Office.

The project has significantly improved the reliability of water supply for residential and industrial use in cities along its path, according to the spokesperson. Additionally, water conservation and efficient utilization in recipient regions have markedly advanced.

The project consists of three routes: central, eastern and western. The central route is the most significant, beginning at the Danjiangkou Reservoir and passing through Henan and Hebei provinces before reaching Beijing and Tianjin municipalities. The eastern route brings water from Jiangsu Province to areas including Tianjin Municipality and Shandong Province.

Wang Annan, chairman of the China South-to-North Water Diversion Corporation, told China Media Group (CMG) that work on the central and eastern routes is progressing smoothly, with preliminary efforts for the western route also advancing. He emphasized the need for continued collaboration between industry, academia and research to drive further innovation in water networks.

"To build a resilient and safe system, we must accelerate the development of modern water networks and integrate scientific and technological advancements," Wang added.

China's investment in water infrastructure reached 1.09 trillion yuan (around $151.66 billion) in the first 10 months of this year, supporting the continued advancements of the project.

In Beijing, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project has had a profound impact on the city's water supply and local ecosystems. Before the diversion, Beijing struggled with severe water shortages, with the Miyun Reservoir unable to meet the growing demands of the city's population.

The Chaobai River in Shunyi District, dried up for over two decades, has come back to life following ongoing ecological replenishment efforts. In 2021, water began flowing again, symbolizing ecological recovery.

Digital innovations enhance efficiency

Technological innovation has also played a key role in the project's success. 

At the Baoying Pumping Station in Jiangsu Province, a key component of the East Route, the implementation of digital twin systems has greatly improved water management efficiency. These systems enable real-time monitoring and control of water flow, reducing staff requirements and lowering energy consumption. For example, staffing at the station has been reduced from 12 to six per shift, while the performance and upkeep of the facility have significantly improved.

The station has also seen a substantial reduction in energy consumption, thanks to the integration of digital twin systems and precision engineering. The station manager, Liu Zhaowen, explained to Xinhua New Agency that these efforts reflect a broader move toward optimizing operations through remote monitoring and reducing the need for on-site staff, paving the way for further innovations in water resource management.

Wu Wenqing, chief planner at the Ministry of Water Resources, emphasized the importance of adopting a systems approach to comprehensively address issues related to water resources, water ecology, water environment and water disasters during an interview with CMG.

"It is important to strengthen technological innovation and conduct in-depth research on key technologies such as smart dam construction, which will provide solid technical support for the successful implementation of water conservancy projects," he said.