A plan to save water consumption and protect water resources has been approved by the Shanghai municipal government and went into effect Monday, according to the Shanghai Water Authority. Under the plan, per capita tap water consumption will fall to 180 liters a day by 2020, while the water-saving facilities will be spread among all residential buildings and public venues.

Background:

Shanghai lacks drinkable water. The Huangpu River, which supplies 80 percent of the city's drinkable water, is nearing exhaustion.

The city, therefore, has been exploring new sources from the Yangtze River and growing forests along it to conserve quality water.

Besides penning regulations, the authority is popularizing technology among the public to efficiently cut the amount of water used.

(eastday.com June 24, 2003)