The 34th Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists opened Monday in Beijing. A senior official from China's Ministry of Land and Resources says China would endeavor to better develop its groundwater resources.
CRI's shuangfeng has the details.

 
Although China is abundant in water resources, due to their lopsided distribution, 81% of the country's water resources lie in south China, while only 19% in the north.

Speaking at the congress, Vice Minister of Land and Resources, Li Yuan, said that China will strengthen groundwater monitoring in the northern part of the country, in its aims to alleviate water shortages in the area.

"In the vast arid and semiarid regions in the north, groundwater is especially important. We must unearth the scientific distribution and changes in groundwater resources, and promote their sustainable development."

The minister said China will also gradually perfect its groundwater monitoring technology, and set up monitoring stations in key regions.

The latest statistics show that China's groundwater networks account for one third of the country's total water resources, with over 60% good for drinking.

However, as more efforts are made to develop groundwater resources, Zhang Zonghu, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, warned against overexploitation.

"In the long run, we must conserve our groundwater resources, improve consumption, prevent pollution, and develop groundwater rationally."

Zhang Zonghu said the overexploitation of groundwater has the potential to cause serious problems, like water contamination, or even ground subsidence and land desertification.

Li Yuan added that China would strive to promote communication and cooperation in groundwater exploitation with other countries.

Themed "Groundwater: Status quo and Future Tasks," the five day congress has attracted over 240 experts from 56 countries. Covering a wide range of topics, their discussions include groundwater and sustainable development, groundwater quality safety, reducing rural poverty, and groundwater reconnaissance and development, among others.

Shuang Feng, CRI news.