Shenzhen will consider selecting two to three seaside communities this year where seawater will be used to flush toilets, in order to conserve freshwater resources, the city’s water resources bureau was quoted by the Daily Sunshine as saying last week.

 

The bureau said the new practice will be first implemented by some newly developed seashore resorts and communities. If possible, seawater flushing will also be introduced in some newly renovated constructions near the seashore.

 

The conservation of freshwater was among the top concerns of deputies to the local legislature and members of the local committee of the CPPCC, the Daily said.

 

According to the water resources bureau, the use of seawater is more feasible in eastern Shenzhen.

 

The water is polluted at the mouth of the Pearl River, while the seawater in Yantian is of good quality.

 

Shenzhen is suffering a serious water shortage, the bureau said.

 

According to the bureau, Shenzhen will focus on having wastewater recycled.

 

The city now consumes 1.5 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually and produces 1.3 billion cubic meters of wastewater.

 

The bureau expects more than 90 percent of wastewater produced by the special economic zone can be recycled this year.

 

Rainfall will be another source of freshwater supply, the bureau said. Shenzhen only stores about 500 million cubic meters of rainfall each year, while it records an annual rainfall of 1.827 billion cubic meters.

 

Two large reservoirs will be built in Nan’ao in eastern Shenzhen and Gongming in Bao’an in the western part of the city to store rainfall.

 

Compared with many developed countries, which use treated sewage water to flush the toilets, China still uses clean water, because most Chinese cities are equipped with single pipes for water supply.

 

(Shenzhen Daily March 27, 2006)