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China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project Empowers Sustainable Water Resources System in the North

: Global freshwaters are severely depleted. Provision of improved water infrastructure technologies and innovation can address challenges posed by water shortages to environmental sustainability. China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project has generated extensive debates over sustainability of water resources system in the northern drier region, which faces severe water scarcity hindering ecosystems, agriculture, industries and livelihoods. Some arguments extend the views that large infrastructure projects can have negative implications for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem goods and services. However, this study strengthens the opposite view, as such projects would resolve increasing environmental challenges northern China has been facing over many decades due to severe water shortages. The project empowers connectivity among individuals, community, and organizations that the sustainability of goods and services such as energy, irrigation and water supply are perceived, and livelihoods and the standard of peoples’ living is improved. A resilient, robust and adaptive water infrastructure framework can overcome the challenges of water shortages by meeting a long term social, economic and environmental goals for water resources systems in northern China. Such framework can also identify the thresholds of change and the threats associated with environmental sustainability.


Introduction
Global freshwaters generate important goods and services for social and economic development. Freshwater ecosystems goods and services are however severely depleted during the 21st century due to population growth, urbanisation, climate change and poor governance [1][2][3]. Provision of improved water infrastructure technologies and innovations are thought to be important strategy to address water shortages and environmental sustainability issues particularly in drier regions.
China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) has received extensive debates and interests on environmental sustainability among scientific community within and outside China. Over the years, the water-intensive economic development in northern China is hindered by severe water shortages [4,5]. The northern region, where more than 150 million people live, has faced a dramatic reduction as high as 150 billion m 3 of groundwater reserves over recent decade, causing a significant decrease in the water supply across Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei [6,7]. Groundwater reserves have played a vital role in protecting the environments against droughts over millennia [8]. Over-extraction of the The routes are shown with red (solid and dotted) lines. The eastern route project along Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal aims to alleviate water shortages in Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Hebei and Tinjin. The Phase I of the Eastern Route Project supplies 8.8 × 10 9 m 3 water in total, out of which, 1.1 × 10 9 m 3 water is supplied to Shandong (Jinan, Qindao, Zhaozhing and Weihai). Phase I of the middle route project supplies 9.5 × 10 9 m 3 water from Han River (tributary of the Yangtze River) to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The western route project, yet to be commenced, will divert water from the upper Yangtze River, dammed reservoirs in the Tongtian River, Yalong River and Dadu River (all are tributaries of the Yangtze River) to Qinghai, Gansu, Ninxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
However, despite the all positive signs, targeting a resilient, robust and adaptive water resources system to meet a long term social, economic and environmental goals of large-scale water diversion projects requires a comprehensive understanding of environmental change and vulnerability, a careful assessment of drivers and a real time implementation of the environmental monitoring program [20]. The comprehensive assessment on the use of sustainability models and frameworks is often considered as powerful tool for better understanding of the large-scale water delivery projects [16,35]. In this study, a conceptual framework has been developed on the imminent threats posed by rapid environmental change such as the depletion of water resources in northern China. The framework is thought to provide better prospective for sustainable water resources system in SNWDP by assessing various thresholds of environmental change in the region. We argue that a comprehensive understanding of the human-environment interactions and the response of ecosystems to changing socioeconomic conditions under large water delivery projects is useful to identify associated thresholds and to address key sustainability measures for water resources systems in the region.

Water Resources System Context in Northern China and the Role of SNWDP in Sustainability
Water shortages in northern China are projected to be 30 billion m 3 by 2030, causing $20 billion financial losses due to low grain production [36]. The increased rates of water use between 2011 and 2016 in three river basins, Huang (65%), Huai (74%), Hai (94%) and over-extraction of groundwater resources in the region have indicated to severe water shortages [10,36,37]. Larger cities such as Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, in particular have suffered the most (Table 1), for example at a cost of yearly 500 billion Yuan (about $73,000 million) [38,39]. The routes are shown with red (solid and dotted) lines. The eastern route project along Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal aims to alleviate water shortages in Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Hebei and Tinjin. The Phase I of the Eastern Route Project supplies 8.8 × 10 9 m 3 water in total, out of which, 1.1 × 10 9 m 3 water is supplied to Shandong (Jinan, Qindao, Zhaozhing and Weihai). Phase I of the middle route project supplies 9.5 × 10 9 m 3 water from Han River (tributary of the Yangtze River) to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The western route project, yet to be commenced, will divert water from the upper Yangtze River, dammed reservoirs in the Tongtian River, Yalong River and Dadu River (all are tributaries of the Yangtze River) to Qinghai, Gansu, Ninxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
However, despite the all positive signs, targeting a resilient, robust and adaptive water resources system to meet a long term social, economic and environmental goals of large-scale water diversion projects requires a comprehensive understanding of environmental change and vulnerability, a careful assessment of drivers and a real time implementation of the environmental monitoring program [20]. The comprehensive assessment on the use of sustainability models and frameworks is often considered as powerful tool for better understanding of the large-scale water delivery projects [16,35]. In this study, a conceptual framework has been developed on the imminent threats posed by rapid environmental change such as the depletion of water resources in northern China. The framework is thought to provide better prospective for sustainable water resources system in SNWDP by assessing various thresholds of environmental change in the region. We argue that a comprehensive understanding of the human-environment interactions and the response of ecosystems to changing socioeconomic conditions under large water delivery projects is useful to identify associated thresholds and to address key sustainability measures for water resources systems in the region.

Water Resources System Context in Northern China and the Role of SNWDP in Sustainability
Water shortages in northern China are projected to be 30 billion m 3 by 2030, causing $20 billion financial losses due to low grain production [36]. The increased rates of water use between 2011 and 2016 in three river basins, Huang (65%), Huai (74%), Hai (94%) and over-extraction of groundwater resources in the region have indicated to severe water shortages [10,36,37]. Larger cities such as Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, in particular have suffered the most (Table 1), for example at a cost of yearly 500 billion Yuan (about $73,000 million) [38,39]. Table 1. Comparison among the three routes of SNWDP adopted from [11,40]. Until recently, about 18 billion m 3 water in total is diverted from the eastern route project (ERP) and the middle route project (MRP) of the SNWDP benefitting the significant residential and ecological communities by bringing economic prosperity and improved environmental conditions in the north [25,36,41,42]. The MRP alone has improved water self-purification capacity in Beijing by reducing 1 × 10 8 m 3 groundwater extraction as well as by refreshing natural lakes, alleviating droughts and water logging capacity [11]. The project has stimulated regional economic development by creating employment opportunities, making better transportation network and facilities, expanding irrigation schemes, electricity and aquaculture, recreational fishing and tourism industries as well as controlling flood hazards (Table 2). This is because, the SNWDP has adopted regulation of environmental flow regime, water pollution control, and conservation and management of water, soil and biota, which is expected to maximize the China's regulation of environmental redlines for freshwater systems [27,[43][44][45][46]. Despite these measures, urban and industrial water demands and irrigation, energy and environmental protection together with challenges of groundwater recharge continue to increase complexity in environmental-hydrological-socioeconomic interactions and vulnerability to sustainable water resources system ( Figure 2). As a result, the future of China's water resources system is likely to show imbalanced supply and demand for agriculture and general population due to increased land use and climate change interactions in the region [47]. Such a capital-intensive project is also blamed as biased economic analysis, leading to cost overruns with construction delays and extinction of local biodiversity and reduced ecosystem-based goods and services [38,48].
However, China's industrial growth and increasing water demand have been maintained through sustainable water allocation, and water use efficiency strategies that have assisted restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services in the region [27,49]. Provisions have also been made for development of wastewater treatment plants and construction of artificial wetlands in the region. A long-term water quality monitoring program has been set up for wetland ecosystems restoration and groundwater replenishment in Hebei, Tianjin and Beijing [26,36,50]. Recent paradigm shift in China's water reforms policy by creating large-scale infrastructure projects like SNWDP and by using a holistic water resources development (environment-ecosystem-hydrology) approach ( Figure 2) has brought fundamental change in the quality of the people's life in the region [36]. It has been argued that absence of integration of strategies in resource assessments and policy-making can lead to poor performance of water use efficiencies. Integration of strategies related to climate, land-use, energy and water, together with resource assessments, can improve governance and sustainability of water resources [51]. Note: The analysis of economic benefits is based on market value assessment using shadow engineering approach of the observed data and relevant literature.

Sustainability Measures and Thresholds of Change in Water Resources System
China needs the use of better approaches and strategies of infrastructure policies including recognizing the thresholds of environmental change and sustainability of water resources system [40]. Studies suggest that an improved environment, better socioeconomic conditions and peaceful living are some of the key measures of sustainability [13]. However, when a society experiences rapid socioeconomic transformations, this will lead to increased human-environment interactions, and vulnerability of sustainability due to threshold crossings [16,53,54]. The policies adopting to sustainability measures are becoming useful for increasingly urbanized societies in China to meet future food and water security goals ( [55,56]. Integration of natural and social sciences within the framework of traditional (cultural) values are effective for water resource management and societal peace [56]. It has been argued that incorporating better designs and management principles in infrastructure planning reduces investment risks, enhances robustness and adaptive capacity of the society [20].  Note: The analysis of economic benefits is based on market value assessment using shadow engineering approach of the observed data and relevant literature.

Sustainability Measures and Thresholds of Change in Water Resources System
China needs the use of better approaches and strategies of infrastructure policies including recognizing the thresholds of environmental change and sustainability of water resources system [40]. Studies suggest that an improved environment, better socioeconomic conditions and peaceful living are some of the key measures of sustainability [13]. However, when a society experiences rapid socioeconomic transformations, this will lead to increased human-environment interactions, and vulnerability of sustainability due to threshold crossings [16,53,54]. The policies adopting to sustainability measures are becoming useful for increasingly urbanized societies in China to meet future food and water security goals ( [55,56]. Integration of natural and social sciences within the framework of traditional (cultural) values are effective for water resource management and societal peace [56]. It has been argued that incorporating better designs and management principles in infrastructure planning reduces investment risks, enhances robustness and adaptive capacity of the society [20]. The water resource development (outer framework) mobilizes environment, ecosystems and hydrology. The interactions (inner framework) directly influence spatial and temporal variability in distribution patterns and supply of water, and consequently cause water quantity and quality. Demographic and socioeconomic development directly impact on extraction of water and water quality. Poor water quality increases shortages of healthier water for drinking. Dotted lines denote relatively weaker influence (adopted from [57]. The water resources development is achieved through regular monitoring of both infrastructure and water resources and providing subsequent strategies for water resources reforms to improve water quantity and quality in the northern region.
However, large water infrastructure projects are also costly, often requires substantial number of human displacements, and causes biodiversity and fisheries losses leading to reduce societal resilience and peace [20]. For instance, about 10 million people were displaced from the Danjaiangkou Figure 2. Water resources development framework under complex interactions of demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, hydrological and ecological drivers o SNWDP. The water resource development (outer framework) mobilizes environment, ecosystems and hydrology. The interactions (inner framework) directly influence spatial and temporal variability in distribution patterns and supply of water, and consequently cause water quantity and quality. Demographic and socioeconomic development directly impact on extraction of water and water quality. Poor water quality increases shortages of healthier water for drinking. Dotted lines denote relatively weaker influence (adopted from [57]. The water resources development is achieved through regular monitoring of both infrastructure and water resources and providing subsequent strategies for water resources reforms to improve water quantity and quality in the northern region. However, large water infrastructure projects are also costly, often requires substantial number of human displacements, and causes biodiversity and fisheries losses leading to reduce societal resilience and peace [20]. For instance, about 10 million people were displaced from the Danjaiangkou reservoir (the source of SNWDP) catchment, which caused significant human stress. Further, the people living on the outskirts of the reservoir are exposed to diseases caused by water stagnation [36] and nonpoint water pollution from intensive agriculture [40]. The engineering work, shielding of tunnels, quality control of prestressed concrete cylinder pipes, and construction of large canals are thought to be risky and make negative impacts on sustainability [58]. Besides, about 22% of water diverted from the Han River (tributary of the Yangtze) to MRP is reported to have affected the environmental flow regimes of the Han River, reducing sustainability [58].
Sustainability of the river systems in the southern section of SNWDP has also improved. The flow regulation has been better managed by establishing the Xinglong Water Conservancy Project. The amount of diverted water to the project has been cut down during dry seasons and used as environmental water [11]. The integration of principles of water resources, societal values, ecology with infrastructure designs and operations has been valued to satisfy the multiple objectives of sustainability in the region. Societal conflicts have been reduced by compensating the displaced families for houses, economic trees and production equipment and supporting them to settle down elsewhere [11]. It has been argued that water resource infrastructure principles when integrated with environmental requirements including river flows and habitats reduce stresses among people and enhance sustainability [11,14,20]. China prioritizes an integration of infrastructure and ecology as sustainability measures in water resources system [59]. The SNWDP embraces the principle of integrated infrastructure designs and operations to achieve enhanced resilience in water resources system [26,27].
However, China should also recognize the increasing threats of changing environments and associated thresholds in sustainability of water resources systems. Despite water resources reforms, both quantity and quality of water in some areas of northern China have declined [45] threatening the regional food and water security [60]. Most natural capital (forests and water) has been largely used up surpassing the benchmark of reference condition [61] (see Figure 3). For example, the extraction of 2.5 billion m 3 of groundwater had deepened the ground water resource more than 1 m annually in some areas between 1974 and 2000 alone, showing a shift by crossing the natural reference condition [36,62] (see Table 3). reservoir (the source of SNWDP) catchment, which caused significant human stress. Further, the people living on the outskirts of the reservoir are exposed to diseases caused by water stagnation [36] and nonpoint water pollution from intensive agriculture [40]. The engineering work, shielding of tunnels, quality control of prestressed concrete cylinder pipes, and construction of large canals are thought to be risky and make negative impacts on sustainability [58]. Besides, about 22% of water diverted from the Han River (tributary of the Yangtze) to MRP is reported to have affected the environmental flow regimes of the Han River, reducing sustainability [58]. Sustainability of the river systems in the southern section of SNWDP has also improved. The flow regulation has been better managed by establishing the Xinglong Water Conservancy Project. The amount of diverted water to the project has been cut down during dry seasons and used as environmental water [11]. The integration of principles of water resources, societal values, ecology with infrastructure designs and operations has been valued to satisfy the multiple objectives of sustainability in the region. Societal conflicts have been reduced by compensating the displaced families for houses, economic trees and production equipment and supporting them to settle down elsewhere [11]. It has been argued that water resource infrastructure principles when integrated with environmental requirements including river flows and habitats reduce stresses among people and enhance sustainability [11,14,20]. China prioritizes an integration of infrastructure and ecology as sustainability measures in water resources system [59]. The SNWDP embraces the principle of integrated infrastructure designs and operations to achieve enhanced resilience in water resources system [26,27].
However, China should also recognize the increasing threats of changing environments and associated thresholds in sustainability of water resources systems. Despite water resources reforms, both quantity and quality of water in some areas of northern China have declined [45] threatening the regional food and water security [60]. Most natural capital (forests and water) has been largely used up surpassing the benchmark of reference condition [61] (see Figure 3). For example, the extraction of 2.5 billion m 3 of groundwater had deepened the ground water resource more than 1 m annually in some areas between 1974 and 2000 alone, showing a shift by crossing the natural reference condition [36,62] (see Table 3). Figure 3. A sustainability framework for the water resources system in northern China. Three sustainability pillars can play the role: environmental protection; socioeconomic growth and renewable energy, and the provision of societal peace and harmony (see the text for further details). For example, in the Huang-Huai-Hai River basin, the threshold of the sustainability of water resources system (green circle in the centre) appears to have crossed the boundary. At present, water resources are determined largely by sustainable use and maintenance and development of infrastructure within the technological boundary (yellow circle). Technological boundary refers the limit of the built environment related to water resources. Ignoring this boundary will risk the collapse of the sustainability of the water resources system in northern China (red circle).

Figure 3.
A sustainability framework for the water resources system in northern China. Three sustainability pillars can play the role: environmental protection; socioeconomic growth and renewable energy, and the provision of societal peace and harmony (see the text for further details). For example, in the Huang-Huai-Hai River basin, the threshold of the sustainability of water resources system (green circle in the centre) appears to have crossed the boundary. At present, water resources are determined largely by sustainable use and maintenance and development of infrastructure within the technological boundary (yellow circle). Technological boundary refers the limit of the built environment related to water resources. Ignoring this boundary will risk the collapse of the sustainability of the water resources system in northern China (red circle).
More importantly, there are also signs of rapid recovery following the launch of the SNWDP in the east. The SNWDP has played a buffering role for restoring the surface water and groundwater systems in the region. At a critical threshold condition of water resources system, the extrinsic factors such as environmental flow, sedimentation, temperature, and chemical or nutrient loads are operating at a variety of scales. Identifying the key drivers and structural and functional responses of surface and groundwater systems on time are significant for restoration the degrading system [63]. Study suggests that further deepening of groundwater is projected to be reduced by 65% of the current level in Tianjin, Beijing and Hebei by 2023 as a result of the launch of the SNWDP [58,62]. Table 3. Surface water-ground water losses in SNWDP areas over the past 30+ years: (a) total length of drying river channels over time at the lower Yellow river section; (b) Groundwater depletion over time in four different cities along the middle route of the SNWDP. It has been argued that the project will still face a critical demand for the management, which requires a long term planning by using new institutional framework of water saving such as water pricing, trade, and efficiency [67]. Despite global financial crisis causing unviable pricing and/or unforeseen costs in the maintenance of infrastructure [68], SNWDP is expected to improve water conservation, water rights and reforms and to facilitate water transfer via market mechanism, and invest wastewater treatment facilities to reclaim and reuse municipal and industrial wastewaters further [36,67].

a. Drying Channels a b. Buried Depth of Groundwater
Water markets system provides incentives for water-rights-holders with more ample supplies and relatively lower-value uses to transfer water to parties with less ample supplies and higher-value uses [69]. China has begun to adopt market-based measures to address water resource challenges in the north. Efforts are also made to encourage wastewater reuse and water conservation [70]. In Gansu Province, for example, the groundwater abstraction was estimated at 135%, and irrigation accounted for 86% of basin water use prior to the 2000s. The creation of the Shiyang Basin water rights trading (WRT) system in the province has been projected to reduce consumption by 60-million m 3 annually, largely through agricultural water conservation and restricted groundwater use. Further, installation of smart meters on individual wells in the region has reduced unwanted water abstraction [70].
We argue that the current water resources demand in northern China can be addressed largely by advancing the water infrastructure technologies such as introduction of internet based water rights trading system [70]. Other water infrastructure projects including the enhancement of green infrastructure through catchment restoration and ecosystem management programs would also assist socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability [3]. Green infrastructure technology provides better network connectivity between natural and ecological processes and enhances community engagement for protection of ecological habitats and waterways and reduces possible crossing of 'technological boundary', the yellow circle ( Figure 3). For instance, the yearly budget allocated for water pollution control infrastructure along the ERP alone is as high as 24 billion Yuan (about 3.5 billion US dollars) [71]. The SNWDP is looking at viable and durable funds for maintaining infrastructure projects such as the areas of green infrastructure in order to avoid unprecedented rise in water prices in the municipal cities including Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin [36]. However, any reduction in investments in infrastructure technology including maintenance and an inappropriate demand-supply management scheme is likely to cross the technological boundary ( Figure 3). The technological boundary is the limit when the supply of water in the north is insufficient (also see the caption description in Figure 3). Under rapidly changing environment (e.g., climate change, population growth, and pollution), SNWDP should be operated within the technological boundary by advancing the environmentally friendly infrastructure. Crossing this boundary would risk a collapse of the sustainable water resources systems in the region. Advancement of innovative green infrastructure technologies coupled with improved governance has been urged to achieve the planetary goal of sustainability of water resources systems. In a planetary goal, every individual has a safe operating space for stable and sustainable environment including the use of water resources [72]. When targeting such goal, the water resources, the human appropriation and stewardship are urged to better suited for policy making of the rapidly transitioning environments [3,73].
An increased awareness of environmental, ecological and economic benefits of water for households, agriculture, energy and industries is thought to be significant at a time of regime shift of water resources [3,4]. For example, prior to MRP, the areas of the Huang-Huai-Hai River basin, were critical to shift, and fell within the red circle ( Figure 3). Excessive extraction of surface and ground water together with water pollution under rapid industrial and population growth and climate change have led to surpass the green circle. The launch of SNWDP has brought back the region within the yellow circle (Figure 3), by alleviating water shortages, consequently stimulating the socioeconomic development in the region. In addition, environmental flows of the river systems have been restored, water quality of wetlands and reservoirs are improved, deepening of groundwater table has reduced and the overall socioeconomic conditions of the people in Hebei, Henan and Shandong Provinces have significantly improved [30]. The number of water-and-energy intensive industries in the region has increased employment opportunities [30]. The SNWDP is projected to generate additional $75 billion gross domestic product (GDP) annually to 2020 significantly improving the socioeconomic conditions of people in the region further [11,36]. Following the launch of ERP and MRP, the projects not only have generated the GDP, they also have recharged groundwater aquifer levels, created artificial ecological corridors for better wildlife habitats, and rehabilitated of those degraded natural ecosystems in the north [11,36].
Under the rapid technological advancements over the recent decades, China has also adopted the concept of "He wei gui" ("harmony is valued") for societal well-being [74,75]. Traditional belief "jun quan shen shou" ("divine right") is often considered useful in environmental governance and sustainability [76]. Today, the "peace and security" concept has been increasingly regarded for foundation of institutional security and societal goals are often embedded in the principles of good governance and sustainable water resources system [76]. The nutshell of peace and security is building a market-based economy through integration into the outside world in the process of modernization [77]. Creating a sustainable industrial structure by focusing on societal transformation with establishment of an improved social security system, ideals of fairness, justice, prosperity and harmony are considered significant [77].
Lately, the focus on collaborative partnerships in China have begun to address complex water issues and integrated governmental and non-governmental perspectives of water resources management in northern China. Increased dialogues and negotiation involving scientists, government stakeholders, non-profit and private sector organisations, and consultation with the public has become increasingly useful in decision making processes of water security issues [5,77]. While working for sustainable water resources strategies, one should however understand that the integrated water resource management has gradually evolved through cross-cutting 'nexus' of adaptive water governance [78,79]. Ignoring sustainable strategies adopted by SNWDP may push the water resources system in the northern drier region within the trap of the red circle (Figure 3).

Conclusions
We argue that the South-to-North Water Diversion Project will inevitably contribute to the China's water reform, environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development in the northern plains. Despite ongoing debates and complex demographic, socioeconomic and environmental challenges, SNWDP has emerged as infrastructure to accomplish sustainable water resources system including the better allocation of water resources, biological conservation and ecosystem restoration in the region successfully. Recognizing with the imminent threats of the thresholds of environmental change on time has become increasingly crucial while planning to achieve the goals for sustainable water resources system under SNWDP. A comprehensive understanding of the rapidly changing human-environment interactions, together with the monitoring and assessment of the SNWDP infrastructure, as well as the quantity and quality of water in the conveyance channel is essential for better forecasting and modelling while addressing the sustainability goals of water resources systems in northern China.
Author Contributions: G.R.K. and Z.W. developed the research idea, G.R.K. and W.S. reviewed literature and analysed the data, and G.R.K., W.S., Z.W. and J.L. together wrote the paper.