Beijing is Literally Sinking

As if there weren’t enough things to be concerned about when living in Beijing, now we can add another thing to the list – the city is literally sinking.

A team of researchers, using satellite measurements, have figured out that our town is sagging into the ground at a rate of about 11 centimeters a year. The reason? We’re simply using too much water.

The researchers blame the pumping of groundwater for causing the soil beneath or feet to collapse, amidst all the frenetic building going on above. The worst affected area is Chaoyang due mainly to all the skyscrapers, malls, and other large structures above.

Groundwater makes up two thirds of Beijing’s water source, and it’s used for everything from industrial and agricultural use to household consumption. Some estimates put the amount of total water required for all this use at 3.5 billion liters a year.

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Most alarming is that if ground water continues to be pumped at excessive rates, the uneven sinking of the city could pose a major threat to the infrastructure, including the train system.

At least we’re not alone though: apparently Shanghai has dropped nearly 2 meters since 1921 and Mexico City, Jakarta, and Bangkok are so hooked on groundwater they’re having the same sinking feeling.

Photo: The Week