Addressing the shortage of snow water in China

To cope with snow surpluses but lack of water in winter, China's capital will turn snow into water this winter.

The biggest snowstorm in history in Beijing - China. (Photo: Csmonitor.com).

Two cars equipped with high-capacity heaters will be taken to many locations around Tiananmen Square in Beijing City to melt clean snow. Each heater has the ability to handle about 100 cubic meters of ice and snow in an hour, the Global Times said. Clean snow will also be used to clean roads, irrigate and replenish water for the three rivers that flow through the city.

Northern China is struggling with water shortages and droughts for many years and experts say global warming triggers that situation.

Last year Beijing's water consumption, with a population of nearly 20 million, was 3.55 billion cubic meters, while the city was only able to supply 2.18 billion cubic meters. Therefore, melting clean snow not only increases the city's water supply capacity, but also contributes to reducing the amount of ice and snow on the streets in the winter.

Snow often falls in Beijing in the winter. On January 3, 2009, Beijing suffered the worst snowstorm since 1951, lasting for 20 hours.