Wanted: Water

The waters of the Yangtze have fallen to their lowest levels since 1866, disrupting drinking supplies, and posing a threat to endangered-species.

The government also revealed yesterday that the country's most prosperous province, Guangdong, has just had its worst year since 1949.

But the immediate concern is the Yangtze, which supplies water to millions of people in a delta that accounts for more than 40% of China's economic output.

"Before 1996, we were short of water for three months of the year, but now there are only three months when we can use water as normal," Wu Chunping, the vice-manager of Jianli county's water utility, was quoted by Xinhua.

Via Guardian-Unlimited