Water conservation in China

[bhchao]

How expensive are water usage rates in China, especially in cities like Beijing and Shanghai? Is water from the pipe relatively cheap in Chinese cities?

Given the current water shortage, do you think increases in the water utility rate will significantly increase water conservation in urban areas?

[roddy]

Lemme see . . . I pay 3.77Y per m3 of water, made up of a water fee, water resources fee (I guess that's where they're adding the 'use less water please fee' and the waste water handling fee. That's in Beijing.

Increasing costs will reduce usage, but I suspect it's agriculture and industry that are where the real problem is.

[bhchao]

I was reading this month's National Geographic magazine, which is entirely devoted to the issue of water. One of the articles mention a wastewater facility in Orange County, CA that is recycling sewage water already used in toilet bowls into drinking water. Water flushed from peoples' toilet bowls is sent to a highly advanced facility where it is treated and sanitized, and discharged back into aquifers.

Perhaps China should roll out a similar project.