• China ranks fourth in the world in terms of total water resources, but is second lowest in terms of per capita water resource availability

l Nearly half of China's 640 major cities face water shortages; 100 face severe shortages.

l By the year 2000, the annual shortage is expected to reach 29 billion cubic metres. Shortages will peak in 2020 when shortages of 50 billion cubic metres are expected

l Some regions have far less water than the national average