Beijing, suffering its worst drought in 50 years, will face a severe water shortage during the 2008 Olympics if current trends prevail, a Chinese newspaper reported on Wednesday.

As the driest major city in the world -- with average water resources per person one-thirtieth of the world's -- the Olympic capital faces a water shortage of 1.1 billion cubic metres in 2008, the Beijing News quoted Ma Weifang, a state environmental official, as saying.

Supply could be assured by stronger conservation efforts, more recycling and bringing in water from neighbouring provinces, Ma said.

China plans to pump water from southern rivers to the parched north in a project known as the South-North water diversion scheme but environmentalists have raised doubts about the massive scheme's efficacy given serious pollution in China's waterways.

On Tuesday, state media reported that the Yangtze river -- touted as a major water source for the scheme -- was "cancerous" with pollution and could die within five years.

City authorities are also under pressure to protect Beijing's "Green Olympics" from sandstorms and enduring poor air quality.