More than 80 products from 16 companies across the country have received water conservation certificates, while a new list of products to be certified has also been released, said the China Certification Center for Energy Conservation Products. 

The center, the country's only product certifier, said that 58 kinds of products will be certificated.

Companies can apply for certification of their products.

"We hope the certification work will upgrade the techniques used by manufacturers of water conservation products," said an official with the China Certification and Accreditation Administration.

The quality of water conservation products in China is far from being satisfactory, he said.

For example, 50 percent of toilets are unqualified, said Yue Zongwen, an engineer with the center. There are about 1,000 toilet manufacturers in the country.

In October of 2002, only four products including taps, toilets, showers and toilet valves were among the first group of certified products.

Yue said to date more than 200 companies have consulted his center about the certification, among which 30 have applied for certification of their products.

It is expected the certification work will help promote the idea of water conservation among manufacturers and consumers, he said.

In the long run, a market entrance system for water conservation products will be established, Yue added.

Gao Zhong, a water expert and board chairman of the Clean Water Alliance, a Chinese water business company, said the certifications will benefit consumers, manufacturers and the environment.

More Chinese consumers are demanding water-efficient products, he said.

"I will certainly buy water efficient showers, taps and toilets," said Jing Peng, a Beijing resident who is decorating his new home.

That is because water prices in Beijing have gone up, he said.

"Besides, in China, many cities are facing serious water shortages so saving water is significant for the environment."

(China Daily May 20, 2004)