China is to issue a regulation on raising water prices in a bid to contain excessive water consumption, a source with the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) said in Beijing on Wednesday.

The regulation, which is jointly promulgated by the SDRC and the Ministry of Water Resources, will take effect beginning January next year.

The methods of adjusting water prices include price raising, progressive charging and seasonal floating of water prices, according to the regulation.

An SDRC official noted that water prices for industrial use and waterworks will increase when the regulation takes effect and the prices of water for agricultural use will rise slightly. However, the price of water for hydropower generation will remain unchanged, the official said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2003)