Lowest saltwater intrusion in GBA reserves in a decade

Upstream reservoirs have shielded the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) from significant saltwater intrusion during the 2025-2026 dry season, marking the first such success in nearly a decade, the Pearl River Water Resources Commission reports.  According to a report from Xinhua, efforts undertaken by the Pearl River Water Resources Commission countered a 20% drop in natural Xijiang River flows since November 2025, when basin rainfall totaled just 95 millimeters, 40% below average. The commission credited effective storage and discharge from key sites, namely the “Three Gorges of the Pearl River,” for the positive effects.