Beijing will stick more strictly to water-saving policies through the readjustment of industrial structures, according to a symposium on Beijing’s water shortage and solutions organized by Beijing Municipal People’s Political Consultative Conference on Wednesday.

Beijing is expected to be short of 1.185 billion cubic meters of water by 2010, according to Liu Hangui, director of Beijing Municipal Water Conservancy Bureau.

Beijing will shut down factories with high water consumption and pollution including electric power, steel and paper manufacturing facilities, according to a report by an investigation and study group under the Municipal People’s Political Consultative Conference on Beijing’s water resources.

Advanced water-saving technology will be introduced to new industrial projects in the capital city.

Grain-growing areas will be reduced to save ground water and more trees will be planted. Animal breeding and other “highly efficient” agriculture with modern water-saving irrigation methods will be developed.

It is predicted that water used in agriculture will drop to 35 percent of the city’s water consumption in 2010 from 43 percent in 1998, and the figure will continue to drop to 28-30 percent in 2020.

Beijing will accelerate renovation of its urban water supply facilities. It is reported that more than 15 percent of water is lost during distribution.

It is predicted that water-saving equipment and efficient management can save Beijing more than 537 million cubic meters by 2010.

Shanghai still faces critical problems related to its water resources and environment, said Vice-Mayor Han Zheng on the ninth anniversary of the World Water Day.

Since 1998, the city has invested nearly 1.4 billion yuan (US$169 million) to treat its rivers, especially Suzhou Creek. The municipal government has listed Shanghai’s rivers on the top of its environmental agenda.

The city’s rivers have become noticeably clearer and cleaner since launching the initiative.

The government will allocate a further 200 million yuan (US$24 million) for the treatment of rivers and 100 million yuan (US$12 million) to treat sewage.

This year’s focus is to improve the water quality at the three ports of Longhua, Yangshupu and Hongkou.

Another emphasis is to upgrade the water system in Songjiang New Area with a project worth 40 million yuan (US$4.8 million).

Han said efforts would be made to improve public awareness about the need to protect water resources.

(China Daily 03/23/2001)