Rational use of the Huanghe river's water resources

The Huanghe is China's second largest river, 5466 km in length and with a basin area of 752000 km2. It suffers from large seasonal and annual variations in runoff, creating great difficulties for water resources development, particularly in the middle and lower reaches. Sedimentation loads are also heavy. Current water consumption is about as high as it could be, but water use efficiency is very low. Management is poor, the taxation system encourages waste, and pollution is a growing threat. This article outlines the steps that will be necessary if future water demands are to be met.