The municipal government of Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, has issued an order requiring widespread use of recycled water.
Accordingly, all new construction projects in the downtown area must be equipped with devices facilitating the use of recycled water, according to a local official.
The official predicted that the city could cut its consumption of domestic water by half with the use of recycled water.
Liu Junfu, an expert on sewage treatment, said recycled water could be used to flush toilets, water grass and trees, clean roads and vehicles and as cooling water.
Jinan is one of 40 Chinese cities suffering from serious water shortage. The city used to be known for its 72 fountains, but few of these fountains still live up to their fame.
(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2002)
