2. Construction progress
The idea of the SNWDP was studied for over half a century, starting in the 1950s, and the project officially commenced on December 27, 2002, with the start of construction of Phase I of the ERP.
Phase I of the ERP was completed and began operation on November 15, 2013. An annual average of 8.8 × 109 m3 of water is drawn from the Yangtze River and diverted north. The Phase I section of the ERP is 1467 km long, and employs 34 large pumping stations (Fig. 2) in 13 cascades in the region between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2.
Jiangdu Pumping Station in the East Route Project (ERP).
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Phase I of the MRP was completed and began operation on December 12, 2014 (Fig. 3). Running 1432 km in length, the Phase I section of the MRP draws an annual average of 9.5 × 109 m3 of water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3.
The Cao River Aqueduct in the Middle Route Project (MRP).
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Follow-up phases of the ERP and MRP, as well as a preliminary study on the WRP, are underway.