Case 3: South North Water Transfer Project China

Abstract

South North Water Transfer (The SNWT) megaproject is often described as combination of “four horizontals and three verticals” which connects the basins of the Yangtze, Yellow, Huaihe and Hai rivers through the canals of the Eastern, Middle and Western Route. The SNWT project is the most expensive and expansive Chinese infrastructure project and the construction began in the year 2002. The project brought fundamental changes to the hydrology and ecology of the Yellow and Yangtze river systems. Approximately 17 billion cubic meters of water would be diverted per year to meet the water shortages in the Northern region by the year 2050. The project involves the linkage of China’s four main rivers—the Yangtze, Yellow River, Huaihe and Haihe. The project is expected to cost $62 billion. SNWT project is the largest of its kind in the world and is expected to benefit over 100 million people over a period of time. It is one of the most ambitious and expensive water transfer projects in the world.