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Lawmaker Urges Desalination of Sea Water
A lawmaker from the coastal city of Tianjin has asked the government to take the desalination of sea water as a major measure to solve fresh water shortages in coastal cities.
Lu Jinfa, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said that China, a big marine country deficient in fresh water resources and with a 18,000-kilometer coastline, should use high technology to utilize and desalinate sea water.
Many coastal cities suffer from serious fresh water shortages, with 500 cubic meters of fresh water available per person.
He said, "So, desalination of sea water in place of fresh water is vital to easing fresh water shortages in coastal cities."
Following 40 years of efforts, Chinese researchers have mastered a series of sea water desalination techniques, which are now being used chiefly in coastal areas such as Tianjin, Dalian and Shandong Province.
"Sea water desalination is a rising industry being boosted in all countries," he said.
The daily output of sea water desalinated worldwide comes to 23 million tons, and is growing at an average annual rate of 10 to 30 percent, he said.
He urged governments at all levels to include desalination and utilization of sea water in their water resource development plans, and encourage manufacturers to become involved in desalination and utilization of sea water.
He called for efforts to build up China sea water desalination industry to meet people's growing needs for water.
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