Tianjin, a port city and leading economic center in north China, will be short of 3.647 billion cubic meters water by 2005, about three times the current water supply, according to the local government's prediction.

By 2010, the city will be short 3.979 billion cubic meters of water, and the water shortage will possibly top four billion cubic meters by 2015, according to the city construction committee.

Per capita water resources in the city is merely 160 cubic meters, or one-16th of the national average and one-50th of the world's average.

Water shortage has been accelerated in the city because of a recent seven-year dry spell.

With a population of several million, Tianjin has adopted water-saving measures and raised the price for water to help reduce daily consumption from 2.2 million cubic meters to 1.5 million cubic meters.

With the approval of the central government, water has been diverted from the Yellow River, the second longest in China, to the thirsty city eight times in the past three decades since 1972.

The municipal government has decided to promote the use of recycled water to alleviate the water shortage, said Shi Sheng, an engineer with the city construction committee.

A set of regulations drafted by the construction committee will become effective on Dec. 1 this year. The regulations demand the use of recycled water in new residential areas.

(People's Daily November 26, 2003)