V. City Report

Tianjin (China)

Mr. Li Guanmin
Director
Information Management Center
Tianjin Waterworks (Group) Co. Ltd.

Tianjin is the biggest port city in northern China. It has 11,917 square kilometers. The city was established in 1404. The major industry is automobile production. The education system has 12 years of schooling. The area has 39 colleges.

The population is 10 million, with an urban population of 3.7 million. There are 769 persons per square kilometer. There are 486 hospitals. The transportation system includes a railway, a subway, highways and waterways, and a light rail system is being planned.

The water supply system serves 6.1 million people, about 58 percent of the population. It supplied 681.14 million cubic meters of water in 2002.

The Tianjin Waterworks Company was established in 1898, and was one of the first in China. It has 7,908 employees and has a supply capacity of 2.03 million cubic meters per day. It supplies about 5.3 million people per day. (There are other, small, independent water providers in Tianjin.) The cost to residents and industrial/commercial users is 2.6 yuan per cubic meter. Hotels and restaurants pay 5 yuan per cubic meter.

The water company uses a no-dig pipe lining technology, and also manufactures pipe. We are working to develop advanced technology.

Development of advanced technology

Future issues include an increasing population, increasing economic development, and decreasing precipitation. We are seeing a reduction of water resources even while demand is going up.

Some of the solutions being put forth include three diversion projects, city and national laws regarding conservation, and improving people's consciousness of water conservation. Other longer-term solutions could involve recycling treated water, using technology to increase precipitation, and using desalinated water.