Underground water levels in Beijing are rising this year, reversing a nearly decade-long decline, in part because of conservation efforts tied to the Olympics.
Aquifer levels in the Chinese capital have risen about half a meter this year, after having fallen about one meter each year since 1999 because of a long drought. The shortage had forced the city to dig ever-deeper wells, which provide the bulk of its municipal water.
The increase comes despite warnings from environmentalists that the Olympics would contribute to a greater strain on Beijing's water resources, with water being diverted from neighboring regions to supply everything from competition venues to the 40 million ornamental flowers around the city.
The government has rejected the accusations. Officials say the water supply has benefited from unusually plentiful summer rains as well as decreasing demand and greater water recycling that the government pushed as part Beijing's efforts toward a 'Green Olympics.' Overall, water consumption fell to less than 3.4 billion cubic meters last year, from 4.04 billion cubic meters in 2000, officials say. Wastewater-treatment rates have passed 90% as the city rolled out new treatment plants in time for the Games.
The data suggest that some of the environmental-protection efforts for the Olympics could have a lasting impact. 'I think there's a real legacy here,' says Deborah Seligsohn, director of the China program at the World Resources Institute.
Still, the recent gains won't overshadow Beijing's chronic water shortage. According to Probe International, an environmental group, the city's supply of water relative to its population is among the smallest of any of the world's major cities. Nationwide, China's available water supply per person is one-fourth the world average. Government water officials say the biggest segment of demand comes from residential use. Probe International says residential use increased 10 times between 1975 and 2005.
Some conservationists have expressed skepticism about Beijing's efforts. Probe International alleges Beijing has tapped deep groundwater supplies half a mile underground that are hard to replenish and should be reserved for emergencies.
But officials have denied that. 'For Beijing during the Olympic Games, there is no development or exploration of deep groundwater,' Vice Minister of Water Resources Hu Siyi said at a news conference.
In 2001, the government announced a $60 billion project to divert water from the Yangtze River basin to Beijing and the surrounding region to supply more water. One section is supposed to be completed by 2010 to bring water to Beijing. That extra water is meant to ease reliance on the aquifer.
But environmentalists say big conservation efforts are still necessary. 'If you don't do that, the diverted water won't be enough to fill the gap,' says Ma Jun, founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.
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北京的地下水位今年得以上升，扭转了将近10年的水位下降趋势，这种情况部分应归功于与奥运会相关的保护措施。
今年，北京的地下水位上升了0.5米左右，而自1999年以来，由于长期干旱，水位每年下降大约1米。地下水的不足迫使北京加大挖井的深度，北京市政供水大部分来自地下水。
虽然北京的地下水位实现了上升，但环保主义者警告说奥运会将给北京的水资源造成更大压力，为了满足从比赛场馆到全市4,000万盆观赏花卉的方方面面所需，北京需要从邻近地区调水供应。
政府否认了上述指责。相关官员称，地下水上升一方面是得益于今夏难得的充沛降雨，另一方面是因为政府为实现“绿色奥运”而扩大了水资源循环利用规模和用水需求减少。官员们表示，总体上，北京去年的水消耗量从2000年的40.4亿立方米下降到不足34亿立方米。北京市为奥运会兴建了新的废水处理厂，使得废水处理率超过了90%。
这一数据表明，奥运会的一些环保措施可能会产生长远影响。世界资源研究所(World Resources Institute)中国项目部主任沈岱波(Deborah Seligsohn)说，这才是北京奥运会留下的遗产。
不过，近期水位回升也掩盖不了北京长期缺水的事实。据环保组织国际探索(Probe International)的数据，北京市的人均供水量在全球大城市中位最低之列。中国全国的人均可用水供应量仅为世界平均水平的四分之一。水务部门的官员表示，需求最大的一块来自居民用水。国际探索称，1975至2005年间，中国的居民用水量增长了10倍。
一些资源保护主义者对北京市的举措持怀疑态度。国际探索宣称，北京已经利用了地下0.5英里的深层地下水，这类地下水很难补充，本应当保存在来作应急之用的。
但相关官员否认这一说法。水利部副部长胡四一在一场新闻发布会上说，北京奥运期间没有开采深层地下水。
2001年，政府宣布了耗资600亿美元的“南水北调”工程，从长江流域向北京及其周边地区调水，以增加供水量。一部分工程预定2010年完工，将向北京供水。该工程旨在减轻对地下水的依赖。
但环保主义者认为，北京仍需要大力保护水资源。公众与环境研究中心(Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs)创始人马军说，如果不采取保护措施，调用的水也不足以弥补缺口。
