The availability of clean water has long been an issue in China and a potential stumbling block to its development.
Earlier this year, the issue came into stark focus following the discovery of 16,000 dead pigs Huangpu river in China, as well as 1,ooo dead ducks floating in the Nanhe river.
Now The Economist has provided the above video primer explaining China’s water crisis, which is reportedly being dealt with badly by its authorities (H/t Interest.co.nz).
According to the video, China’s effective water supply is shrinking both through over-use and pollution. Water is drastically under-priced and they don’t use what they have efficiently. Their solutions tend to focus on the supply-side, for example via building dams and diversion projects, rather than attempting to manage demand.
Put simply, China’s approach to water is creating potentially drastic environmental damage, which could ultimately stunt its development.
