Sinking cities

A survey carried out by China Geological Survey and the Ministry of Land and Resources highlights another consequence of the depletion of China’s groundwater, particularly in big cities: land subsidence.

A lack of water combined with intense urbanization and construction works is having a direct impact on the landscape of Chinese cities such as Cangzhou and Shanghai. The land subsidence could be costing as much as one billion yuan a year already and governments are now implementing preventive measures: reduction in pumping and the replacement of drained groundwater in affected cities.