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"Fountain City" Protects Groundwater
Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, which is reputed to be the "City of Fountains," plans to stop exploitation of groundwater next year.
Xie Yutang, the city's mayor, disclosed the news in a recent interview.
To alleviate shortages, while prevent excessive use of groundwater, the city will make increasing use of surface water. It has constructed two big projects channeling water from the Yellow River.
The Queshan Reservoir Project, with a cost of 600 million yuan (about 72 million U.S. dollars) and a water capacity of 46 million cubic meters, was completed last April. The Tianshan Water Supply Project, which involves an investment of 1.4 billion yuan (about 170 millions US dollars) and has a capacity of 48.5 million cubic meters, is to be finished soon.
About 80 percent of water consumed in Jinan will be supplied with surface water after these two projects are put in to operation, Xie Yutang said, adding that the city plans to stop exploitation of groundwater next year.
Scattered over three-square-kilometers in downtown Jinan are 160 fountains, which used to spring an average of 30 tons of water per day. But, in the 1970s, as result of rapid expansion of the city and excessive use of groundwater, these fountains began to spring less often.
Jinan has a plan to hold the first "International Fountain Festival" next year which will integrate trade talks, cultural events and tourism, Xie Yutang said.
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