To prevent water shortages in Beijing from worsening, municipal
authorities have decided to set quotas on residents' water use and
adopt a progressive water pricing system.
Under a progressive fee system, residents pay one price for
water until a certain amount is consumed. After that, the price
goes up.
Chen Lintao, vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Water
Conservation Office, said water price hikes may be the most
effective method of encouraging people to save water.
The policies, for a city of 13 million, have been in the works
for years.
Experts predict the demand for water will drop by 20 percent
when the price is doubled.
Several big cities in China have moved towards progressive fees
for water.
For instance, Dalian, a coastal city in northeast China's
Liaoning Province, charges 2.3 yuan (US$0.28) per cubic meter of
water if a household's monthly water consumption is under eight
cubic meters. But the price soars to 10 yuan (US$1.2) after
that.
However, Chen said the implementation of progressive pricing in
Beijing would be more complex than in Dalian or other cities, due
to the city's huge population and varied conditions in different
social strata.
"Moreover, if progressive charges are based on households, the
same basic amount of water would be quite tight for a six-member
household compared with a two-member family," said Chen.
He said a recent survey conducted by his office and the
Municipal Commission of Development and Reform showed that around
60 percent of the respondents support the move towards progressive
water pricing.
"We plan to publish the draft of price hike measures and solicit
public opinions and suggestions," said Chen.
Wang Hao, head of the Water Resources Research Institute, said
40 percent of the water in Beijing goes to residential use.
Individuals in the city use more water than industry.
"I think the implementation of progressive charges will produce
noteworthy results to ease the city's water shortage," said Wang
during an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
Wang said Beijing has been facing a severe water shortage. The
situation has deteriorated with five consecutive years of drought
since 1999.
However, not everybody in Beijing, including Zhen Zhen, a native
of north China's Shanxi Province who just came to the city for
work, has realized that Beijing is facing a dangerous lack of
water.
Zhen Zhen was excited when she discovered she could get tap
water at any time. In her hometown, water is usually supplied at
fixed times.
"I had to use various containers, such as basins, pails, kettles
and vats to store water during the late evenings. It's really
horrible," said Zhen.
But she did not know that her province had diverted 50 million
cubic meters of water last year to thirsty Beijing.
"Beijing needs to build a water-saving society and promote the
use of water-saving devices," said Zhang Shouquan, a senior water
expert and also a deputy to the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
Beijing Committee.
"Saving water is a fundamental strategy for Beijing's
sustainable development," said Zhang, who put forward 10 proposals
on water saving to the annual session of the CPPCC Beijing
Committee.
"Besides increasing water prices, the government should consider
introducing some more compelling methods to enhance people's
awareness of saving water," said Zhang. "For example, offering
people subsidies if they choose water-saving commodes."
(China Daily February 25, 2004)