Due to the drought in the Pearl River Basin, Guangdong is experiencing the most severe saltwater intrusion since monitoring records began. As of the 18th, the Pinggang pumping station in Zhuhai, Guangdong has been unable to draw water for 14 consecutive days. At the same time, the dry river has caused ships to be stranded on the Xijiang River.

Reporters learned from the Pearl River Water Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources on the 18th that, starting at 0:00 on the 17th, the Longtan and Yantan hydropower stations in the upper reaches of the Xijiang River began their dispatch period. Yue Zhongming, executive deputy commander of the Pearl River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, said that according to the plan, the upstream Longtan, Yantan and other hydropower stations will guarantee the downstream flow as stipulated. The Changzhou Water Conservancy Hub, the main dispatch node located in Guangxi, will increase the downstream flow for 7 consecutive days starting from the 21st, while the Feilai Gorge Water Conservancy Hub on the Beijiang River in Guangdong will conduct coordinated dispatch.

According to a relevant person in charge of the Pearl River Water Conservancy Commission, the regulated water will reach Zhuhai and other downstream areas around the 25th.

The Pearl River Water Conservancy Commission analyzed that this year's water replenishment situation is more complex than that of 2005 when the emergency water diversion to suppress salinity and replenish fresh water in the Pearl River was implemented. Firstly, the effective storage capacity of the main upstream trunk reservoirs is only more than 2 billion cubic meters, which is more than 1 billion cubic meters less than in 2005, and the water available for scheduling is tight. Secondly, the downstream saltwater intrusion is fierce, and the Zhuhai Pinggang pumping station has been unable to draw water for 14 consecutive days, exceeding the previous record of 9 days since salinity monitoring began in 2005, increasing the pressure on water supply in Zhuhai and Macao. At the same time, it is also necessary to comprehensively consider the operational safety of water supply, shipping, and power generation before the Spring Festival.

Yue Zhongming said that the Pearl River Flood Control Headquarters will strictly implement water volume dispatch instructions, appropriately increase the downstream flow of upstream reservoirs in combination with tidal activity patterns, increase the runoff in the Xijiang and Beijiang rivers, ensure the "specified location, specified time, and specified amount" of salinity-suppressing flow, alleviate the current pressure on water supply in Zhuhai and Macao and Xijiang shipping, make the work of seizing and storing fresh water efficient and orderly, and ensure the safety of water supply in Zhuhai and Macao.