"The drought in the Yangtze River Basin is very serious. Since July, the rainfall has been the lowest since 1961, the water inflow from the upper and middle reaches has been the lowest since 1949, and the water levels of the river sections below Ganliusha City and Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake are the lowest in the same period in history. ."

　　On August 17, Liu Weiping, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, said at a press conference on drought resistance, water supply and a bumper harvest in the Yangtze River Basin that in order to effectively deal with the current severe drought in the Yangtze River Basin, the Ministry of Water Resources has started the implementation of the "Yangtze River Basin Reservoir" at 12:00 on the 16th. "Special Action for Joint Dispatching of Drought Relief and Water Supply", aiming at the arid areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Poyang Lake Basin and Dongting Lake Basin where the population and crops are concentrated, the Ministry of Water Resources has jointly dispatched ten key reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the Dongting Lake water system and the Poyang Lake water coefficient. Supply water to the downstream, focusing on ensuring the safety of drinking water for the masses, and ensuring the water demand for irrigation in the critical period of crop growth in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the two lakes in the next week.

　　It is worth noting that why did the drought in the Yangtze River Basin occur?

At present, can the drinking water and agricultural water be guaranteed for the people in arid areas?

How is the water storage situation of the reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin?

How does the reservoir group with the Three Gorges Reservoir as the core work?

What if the drought situation further develops the water supply security in the dry area in the future?

The Ministry of Water Resources responded to these questions one by one.

Why did the drought form?

　　The entire Yangtze River Basin continues to have high temperature and little rainfall, and drought conditions are rare in the same period for many years

　　Since July, most of the Yangtze River Basin has continued to have high temperature and little rainfall, and the rainfall is 4.5% lower than the same period of the previous year; the water inflow of the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake is 2-80% lower than the same period of the previous year; currently, the main stream of the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake, The water level of Poyang Lake is 4.85-6.13 meters lower than the same period of the previous year, the lowest since the same period since the actual measurement record. On the basis of the early water storage, the water storage of the reservoir is basically normal, and the small and medium-sized reservoirs in some areas are insufficient.

　　In response to the cause of the drought in the Yangtze River Basin this year, Liu Zhiyu, deputy director of the Information Center of the Ministry of Water Resources, said that most of the Yangtze River Basin is located in southern my country, where water resources are relatively abundant, and rainfall is mainly concentrated in the flood season from April to September.

Under normal circumstances, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River are located on the west side of the Western Pacific Subtropical High (referred to as "subtropical high") from July to August, which is a rainy area; while the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are controlled by the subtropical high, which is not conducive to rainfall, and is prone to summer droughts. For example, in 2013, Severe summer drought occurred in 2019.

　　In the context of global warming, affected by the continuous La Niña event, since July this year, the subtropical high in the western Pacific has been larger in area, stronger in intensity, located in the west and north, controlled by the subtropical high subsidence airflow, and the entire Yangtze River Basin has continued to have high temperatures There is little rainfall, the main rivers and lakes in the basin have significantly less water, and the water level is significantly lower, resulting in a drought that is rare in the same period for many years.

How to ensure the drinking water and agricultural water for the people in arid areas?

　　The controlled reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin have supplied 5.3 billion cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches

　　The drought situation in the Yangtze River Basin is developing rapidly. The 6 provinces (cities) of Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Anhui are affected by the drought with an area of ​​12.32 million mu, and 830,000 people and 160,000 large livestock have been affected by the drought.

　　According to meteorological forecasts, the Yangtze River Basin will maintain high temperature and little rainfall in the next week. The rainfall and inflow of water in August are generally low, and the drought may continue to develop.

How to ensure the drinking water and agricultural water for the people in arid areas?

　　In this regard, Liu Weiping responded that the Ministry of Water Resources has launched the "Special Action for the Joint Operation of Reservoir Groups in the Yangtze River Basin for Drought Relief and Water Supply" at 12:00 on the 16th. The population and crops are very concentrated in this area.

The object of this water supply guarantee is the safety of drinking water for the masses in the dry area, the drinking water demand of large livestock and the seasonal irrigation water demand of autumn crops.

　　Since August, the water conservancy department has dispatched controlled reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin to supply 5.3 billion cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches.

In view of the continuous development of the current drought, especially in the critical period of crop growth in the next week, the water consumption is the most important period for crop irrigation. The reservoirs in the upstream reservoir group of Dongting Lake, the downstream water diversion facilities and the water demand, etc., are digitally simulated and rehearsed to accurately calculate the flow, water level and water volume in the downstream areas, and scientifically formulate a drought relief scheduling plan.

Which controlled reservoirs are involved in this drought-relief water supply dispatch?

　　Ten key reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake water system and Poyang Lake water coefficient participated

　　According to Liu Weiping, the joint dispatch for drought relief and water supply mainly dispatches three reservoir groups, involving dozens of backbone reservoirs.

The first reservoir group is the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

The cascade dispatch of large-scale reservoirs such as Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, and Xiangjiaba in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and replenishing 350 million cubic meters of water to the Three Gorges Reservoir is the first step.

At the same time, the Three Gorges Reservoir will be dispatched to increase the outflow flow, and discharge it at a flow rate of 11,900-12,500 cubic meters per second. It is planned to supply 830 million cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

　　The second reservoir group is to dispatch the "four waters" reservoir group of Xiang, Zi, Yuan and Li in the Dongting Lake water system to increase the outflow flow, and plan to supply 320 million cubic meters of water to the downstream.

　　The third reservoir group is the Gan, Fu, Xin, Rao and Xiu “Five Rivers” reservoir groups in the Poyang Lake water system to increase the outflow flow, and plan to supply 330 million cubic meters of water to the downstream.

　　The water is transferred to arid areas through the joint dispatch of reservoir groups. The Ministry of Water Resources instructs and urges local governments to seize the favorable opportunity of upstream water replenishment, accurately connect each irrigation area and each urban and rural water supply intake, and use more quotations, more extraction, more adjustment, and careful calculation. Good water supply for each party, to provide water source guarantee for the bumper harvest of autumn grains and urban and rural water supply.

　　Liu Weiping said that through the implementation of the joint dispatch of drought-relief water supply, the focus is on ensuring the safety of drinking water for the masses, and ensuring the water demand for irrigation in the critical period of crop growth in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the two lakes in the next week.

What is the current status of the water storage of the reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin that are included in the joint operation?

　　Water availability is 10% less than the same period last year

　　Wu Daoxi, deputy director of the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, told The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) that there are 51 controlled reservoirs included in the joint dispatching scope of the Yangtze River Basin this year, of which 27 are located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, including the Three Gorges Reservoir. There are 24 middle reaches including Danjiangkou Reservoir.

　　According to the development of drought in the Yangtze River Basin and the forecast of water inflow, the Yangtze River Commission has planned and deployed in advance, and has dispatched the Three Gorges Reservoir to appropriately raise the operating water level to about 150 meters in mid-to-late July, increasing the available water by nearly 2.3 billion cubic meters, effectively protecting the Yangtze River. Water demand for drought relief in the middle and lower reaches and power grids to ensure power supply in summer (high temperature power load).

Since August, the basin-controlled reservoir groups have supplied 5.3 billion cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches, of which 3.66 billion cubic meters have been replenished by the upstream reservoirs and 1.64 billion cubic meters have been supplied by the midstream reservoirs.

At present, according to statistics, the available water volume of the reservoirs in the Yangtze River Basin included in the joint dispatch is 10% less than that of the same period last year.

What role does the reservoir group with the Three Gorges Reservoir as the core play in fighting drought and ensuring water supply in the Yangtze River Basin?

　　Replenishing water to the downstream, raising the water level in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River by 0.4-0.1 meters

　　Wu Daoxi told The Paper that on August 16, the Yangtze River Commission urgently implemented the drought-relief dispatch of the reservoir groups in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River with the Three Gorges Reservoir as the core. From 12:00 on the 16th, the reservoir groups such as the Three Gorges were dispatched to supply water to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. According to preliminary calculations, it is expected that From the 16th to the 21st, the reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River will supply 830 million cubic meters of water to the lower reaches, of which the Three Gorges Reservoir will supply 480 million cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Reservoir replenishes 350 million cubic meters of water.

Through water replenishment scheduling, Shashi, Chenglingji, Hankou, and Hukou stations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River can be raised by 0.4-0.1 meters without replenishment.

　　"Although the current water level in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is significantly lower than the same period in history, it is still 3.7-7.2 meters higher than the lowest water level in the dry season, and the living and industrial water intake facilities along the river can take water normally." Wu Daoxi said, considering that the current agricultural irrigation During the peak period of water use, if the dry water situation continues to develop, it may affect the water intake for agricultural irrigation in some irrigation areas along the river. The Yangtze River Committee is working with the provinces (municipalities directly under the Central Government) along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River to sort out the irrigation water demand and water intake situation of crops in the irrigation areas along the river, so as to ensure that the reservoirs are clustered. Scheduling and agricultural irrigation are precisely connected to meet the seasonal irrigation water demand of autumn crops in dry areas.

At the same time, the Hunan and Jiangxi Water Conservancy Departments are also urgently implementing the water replenishment schedule for the upstream reservoirs of Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake, making every effort to ensure the water demand of the towns and irrigation areas that may be affected along the line.

　　According to the forecast, the drought situation in the Yangtze River Basin will continue to develop. Wu Daoxi said that the Yangtze River Committee has made various preparations for fighting severe drought and long-term drought.

If the drought situation develops further, how to ensure the safety of water supply in the dry area?

　　Based on the most unfavorable situation of continuous ineffective rainfall in the later period, five measures are taken

　　In general, the most severe meteorological drought since 1961 occurred in the Yangtze River Basin. Through the scientific dispatch of water projects by the water conservancy department, the degree of drought has been significantly reduced.

However, it is predicted that the rainfall in the Yangtze River Basin may still be low in August, and the drought may continue or develop further.

　　Gu Binjie, Inspector of the Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention Department of the Ministry of Water Resources, said that the Ministry of Water Resources will be based on the long-term and severe drought resistance, in accordance with the general requirements of "pre" in the first place and "real" as the bottom, and continue to "ensure the safety of drinking water for people in dry areas." With the goal of ensuring drinking water for large livestock and irrigation water for autumn grain crops”, with precise scope, precise objects, and precise measures, a bottom-up plan for ensuring water supply and autumn grain production water was formulated.

　　Gu Binjie introduced five major measures.

　　One is to optimize and standardize the order of water use.

Correctly handle the relationship between upstream and downstream, left and right banks, current and future water use, domestic and production water, and ensure the safety of drinking water for the masses, drinking water for large livestock and irrigation water for autumn crops.

　　The second is precise scheduling of water conservancy projects.

Based on the most unfavorable situation that there is no effective rainfall in the later period, the watershed and regional water engineering scheduling plan is formulated and implemented accurately.

Carefully do a good job in the scheduling of reservoir groups and the connection of water users, make good use of every square of water, and do everything possible to meet the needs of the masses for drinking water and irrigation water for autumn crops.

　　The third is to speed up the construction of emergency water source projects for drought relief.

According to the actual situation in various places, projects such as the connection between the warehouse and the warehouse and the connection between the warehouse and the factory should be implemented as soon as possible to improve the utilization rate of local water resources.

In areas where conditions permit, speed up the implementation of raw water mutual aid, clean water complementary projects and inter-county and district water transfer projects.

In hilly areas, undercurrents should be intercepted, streams should be diverted, and the potential of existing water sources should be fully tapped.

　　Fourth, make good use of comprehensive supporting measures for drought resistance such as water saving, water transfer, water restriction, water supply, and water pulling to improve drought resistance.

　　Fifth, organize the cadres and technical personnel of the water conservancy system in the dry area to go to the front line, contract the project and the area, and make every effort to provide technical services and coordination and guidance.

　　(The Paper reporter Diao Fanchao)