Shanghai will begin construction of its new water source as early as September with a huge reservoir at the mouth of the Yangtze River to meet its growing demand for water.

 

The Qingcaosha area will become the city's third water source with daily supply of nearly 7.2 million cubic meters' fresh water, according to the water division of Shengtou Corporation, the project builder.

 

More than 10 million people will benefit from the project that will serve downtown customers as well as Pudong New Area and Nanhui District. The total investment will be around 16 billion yuan (US$2 billion).

 

The project calls for construction of surrounding banks of 33 kilometers and consolidation of 16 kilometers of existent banks of Changxing Island, which encircles the Qingcaosha area on the south with Chongming Island on the north.

 

The reservoir should cover 67 square km based on the design.

 

Several pipes and pump stations will also be built to carry the fresh water from Changxing to the water plants in both Puxi and Pudong for further treatment.

 

Currently the city has two water sources. The one on the upper reaches of the Huangpu River, accounts for about 70 percent of the total supply.

 

The rest comes from a reservoir on the south bank of the Yangtze River.

 

(Shanghai Daily July 19, 2006)