Can you believe Chengdu is short of water？In March 2022，the government said the city will face serious water shortage in 2030.Some other cities in southern China，like Shenzhen and Guangzhou，are also becoming "thirsty".Compared with northern areas，southern areas have more rain and are close to more rivers and lake.So why are they still short on water？
    As we know，populations are growing fast in these cities.So people and factories need more and more water.Each person in Chengdu has less than 600 m³ of water each year.It's 1/4 of the country's average （平均）.The situation in Shenzhen is worse.It's 1/12 of the country's average.According to the UN，it is a "real water shortage" when it's below 500.
    Climate（气候）change is making the water problem Chengdu depend on Minjiang River as its main source（来源）of water.Recent years，there isn't enough water running into the river.The change also causes less snow in the mountains.They might provide less water in the future.
    What's more，water pollution makes it harder to get clean drinking water.Factories and farms don't use water properly.
    March 22 is World Water Day.This year，the key point is "groundwater".We can't see groundwater.It's under our feet.But it plays an important role in our lives.About 98 percent of Earth's fresh water is groundwater.But in many places，people pollute groundwater.

（1）

eight/8

eight/8

（2）

The reasons

The reasons

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risk

risk

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three times

three times

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pollute groundwater.

pollute groundwater.