Hot spring planned for Shanghai World Expo

Shanghai is expected to have its first hot spring in the Pudong New Area by 2010, just in time for the World Expo. But experts say the developer must take scrupulous measures to avoid over-exploitation.

With a depth exceeding 2,000 meters and a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, the hot spring was found in Sanjiagang area at the mouth of the city's only ancient volcano. Containing two chemicals beneficial to human health, the hot spring will open to the public after a spacenter - measuring nearly 100 thousand square meters - is completed. However, experts are concerned about excessive exploitation of underground water.

Sun Jianzhong from ShanghaiUrban Dev't Info. Center said, "The first thing we should consider is how deep the digging goes and how much we tap the resources. This is critical, because excessive tapping could cause land subsidence. "

Geothermal experts suggest the hot spring be allowed a maximum of 400 tons of water per day to ensure sustainable development.