Desalination is promising, but no panacea for China’s water shortage

Beijing's economy and population have exploded in previous decades, causing per-person water resources to shrink from about 1,000 cubic meters in 1949 to around 100 cubic meters today, said Ma Jun, a Chinese environmentalist who directs the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, a non-profit group. "That's a dangerously low level," Ma said.

With sea water accounting for 98% of the earth's water, desalination may seem like a tempting solution to China's water shortage. The technique already provides a much-needed water source in areas with severe fresh water shortages, such as islands, aircraft carriers and the arid cities of the Middle East. Yet there are reasons to be cautious. Because desalination is so energy intensive, it remains uneconomical for widespread use - especially in a developing country like China.

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• Desalination