According to the Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources (hereinafter referred to as the "Pearl River Commission") on the 9th, since the beginning of this year, rainfall in Yunnan Province has been lower than usual, and the drought in the Nanpan River basin in the upper reaches of the Pearl River has been severe and continues to worsen. At present, Yunnan Province is accelerating the advancement of 145 emergency drought-relief water supply projects and steadily promoting various drought-relief and water-supply-guarantee measures.

The Pearl River Commission stated that, in order to guide Yunnan Province in scientifically responding to drought disasters, the Commission has traveled to Kunming to investigate and guide water-saving and supply-guarantee work.

The Pearl River Commission introduced that its investigation team gained a detailed understanding of the local drought situation in Yunnan, the construction of water-saving, centralized drinking water source supply, and emergency water supply projects during the drought-relief period, as well as response measures based on the continued development of the current drought. At present, Yunnan Province, through the implementation of five major actions—"finding water underground, seeking water from the sky, channeling mountain spring water, emergency water diversion, and water conservation by all"—is accelerating the advancement of 145 emergency drought-relief water supply projects and steadily promoting various drought-relief and water-supply-guarantee measures, effectively safeguarding the water supply security of urban and rural residents and the timely irrigation water use for agriculture.

The investigation team pointed out that it is necessary to take into account the impact of current climate changes, base planning on the most unfavorable circumstances, adhere to placing equal emphasis on increasing sources and reducing consumption, and make preparations for saving water to combat prolonged drought and guaranteeing water supply security. It is necessary to carry out in-depth analysis of regional water supply and demand, implement the "Regulations on Water Conservation," strengthen planned water use management under emergency drought-relief conditions, mobilize all sectors of society, effectively carry out proven water-saving measures, tap the utilization potential of existing water sources and unconventional water sources, and enable limited water resources to deliver the greatest benefits.

At the same time, it is necessary to precisely implement urban and rural drinking water source guarantee measures such as "storage, diversion, lifting, and transfer," accelerate the construction of emergency backup water source projects, and conduct dynamic monitoring of water quantity and quality at drinking water source areas.

In addition, it is necessary to fully leverage the "multi-year regulation" function of groundwater, mobilize strategic groundwater reserves according to plans as needed, refine the management of water withdrawal and use from emergency drought-relief groundwater wells, and precisely implement monitoring and early warning of groundwater levels.

The Pearl River Commission stated that, next, it will continue to closely track the development of the drought in Yunnan, guide local areas in implementing detailed water-saving and supply-guarantee measures during the emergency drought-relief period, accelerate the construction of a modern three-dimensional water network, promptly improve the water-saving and water-supply security guarantee system for responding to consecutive droughts and prolonged droughts, and resolutely win the tough battle against drought.