A National Water Information System for China

China is planning to set-up a National Water Information System -NWIS- within the next three years, to improve the country’s monitoring abilities of its fast-growing water consumption and deteriorating water quality, officials said. The system, with a total investment of cica 222 MEuros, will establish 14,000 water monitoring sites throughout the country to collect local information on water consumption and water quality.

The move is seen as a major effort by the central authorities after the country pledged to launch a stricter water resources management system earlier this year to tackle problems including water scarcity, frequent floods and droughts, soil erosion and pollution.

 "Water shortages and pollution are now quite severe in China because of a rising population, advanced urbanization and global climate change," Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei told the conference. "Under the system, water quality situations covering the country's major water supplies, including key rivers, lakes and reservoirs, will be monitored in a timely way" Chen said.