North China's Hebei province has issued a regulation establishing a ration system in an effort to address its increasingly severe water shortage.

According to the provisional statute, local coal mines will be limited to the use of one cubic meter of water for the production of one ton of coal, and powdered milk mills will be limited to eight cubic meters in the production of one ton of milk.

Meanwhile, residents in major cities will be allowed only 110-130 liters of water per day.

Institutions and individuals will be fined provided they violate their quotas.

Since 1995, Hebei has made significant efforts to control and reduce its total water consumption so as to effect the planned use of water in all its cities and counties, according to Zhang Fenglin, director of the provincial bureau of water resources.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2003)