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)