At a routine government press conference on August 2, the Shanghai government spokeswoman issued guidelines on the city to consolidate the achievements from the establishment of a water-conservation city and enhance the improvement of it.

According to the requirements of the Chinese and local governments on the development of a recycled economy and the establishment of a resource-efficient and environmentally-friendly society, the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Shanghai Construction and Transportation Commission, Shanghai Economic Commission, Shanghai Water Resources Bureau and Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau jointly drew up guidelines on the city to consolidate the achievements from the establishment of a water-conservation city and enhance the improvement of it. The Shanghai Municipal government has recently approved the guidelines.

Located at the lower-reaches of the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake valley, Shanghai, though with rich water resources, faces a serious water-pollution problem due to various reasons, with water-supply sources affected by pollution. Therefore, Shanghai lacks quality water. Over the recent years, the Shanghai Party Committee and Municipal government have enhanced water-conservation efforts during the course of industry restructuring and economic development, which have produced satisfactory achievements. In November 2002, Shanghai was selected as one of the first group of Chinese water-conservation cities by the Ministry of Construction and the National Development and Reform Commission. In 2000, the recycling rate of industrial water was 79.2 percent and reached 80.9 percent at the end of last year, up 1.7 percentage points. The local water-consumption was 238 cubic meters per 10,000 yuan (US$1,250) of GDP in 2000, and declined to 125.3 cubic meters at the end of last year, down 47.4 percent.

The guidelines set the guiding ideologies, principles and goals of establishing a water-conservation society and clarifying the general goal, basic principle and main target of it, according to the government spokeswoman.

The guiding ideology is to adopt a scientific view of development, to implement the strategy of rejuvenating the market by science and education and to consider water-conservation a long-standing strategy in local economic and social development. The city will focus on improving the efficiency of water usage and give priority to the water-conservation strategy by taking economic, legal, and technical dissemination measures to boost an overall coordinated and sustained economic and social development.

According to the general goal, by 2010, Shanghai is expected to establish a basic framework for water-conservation in the city on the basis of existing achievements, with improved water-usage efficiency and benefits. It is expected that the water-consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP will decline to 105 cubic meters; water-consumption will reach 85 percent of supply; recycling rate of industrial water will reach 82.4 percent; disposable rate of sewage will reach 80 percent; daily water-consumption of residents will be within 155 liters per capita; and the water-efficiency for agricultural irrigation will increase to 0.75. 

The guidelines clarify the five basic principles of the establishment of a water-conservation society, according to the spokeswoman:

Firstly, to give top priority to human beings, to optimize allocation and coordination; the quality of residents' drinking water should be the top consideration, while balancing water-resource development, usage, conservation and protection.

Secondly, to stick to water-resource development, water conservation and pollution prevention; the city should strengthen water-pollution prevention and improve the pollution-containing capacity of water resources.

Thirdly, to stick to government supervision, market adjustment and public participation; Shanghai should formulate complete water-conservation regulations to bring into full play the usage of water prices as an economic lever in enhancing water-conservation, and improve the public's water-conservation awareness.

Fourthly, to stick to the guidance of science and technology, technical innovation and high efficiency of water usage; the city should combine the advanced water-conservation technologies with the traditional ones to improve efficiency of water usage and benefits.

Fifthly, to implement the project step by step; the city should carry out trial-operations of the project gradually and acquire more experience.

The guidelines specify that for the establishment of a water-conservation city, Shanghai should take the opportunity of such special occasions as World Water Day, China Water Week, water-conservation promotion week for Chinese cities, and World Environment Day to popularize water-conservation education and improve the public's awareness, with complete legal systems to be in place to enhance management and supervision.

According to guidelines, a Shanghai government spokeswoman introduced main tasks in establishing a water-conservation city:

Firstly, strengthening system construction to enhance water-conservation management; establishing a multilevel price system and lean on economic adjustment

Improve the license approval system for water drawing. During the period of license approval, rationality of water use and accessory measures of water-conservation should be argued and checked. Water drawing licenses must not be given to construction projects that haven抰 passed the argumentation.

Strengthen management of planned water use. Enhance the management of water rationing to cover all water users. Stricter checks should be done during the process. According to the city抯 water conservation management measures, fees for overused water must be levied at a higher price.

Establish three simultaneous systems for water conservation, which means that water conservation facilities should be designed, constructed and put into use simultaneously with buildings of the main project. Water supply companies must not accept any application of the project that has not been approved by the water conservation department.

Improve the measuring and statistic system of water use. Before 2010, all water users must install water-measuring equipment. Water use should be arranged according to plan. Equipment must be bought, installed, maintained and checked to ensure their completeness. As for high water consuming industries, such as electric power, metallurgy, chemical or industrial users that consume over 20,000 cubic meters, they must take a water balance test. All residential users should install general water-measuring equipment. Newly-built student dorms should also implement the measuring system. Student dorms that haven't installed the equipment should be upgraded gradually. The water measuring system should also be promoted in urban construction, sanitation and greenery work.

The index of water use volume and sewage treatment rate per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) should be introduced into the city's statistical index system. Management sectors should collect statistics of its industry's water use volume and sewage treatment rate.

Establish a sound water control and ration management system. Lay out annual plans for the city's water use volume to control the city's water use as a whole. Ration water to industries in the city and promote the adjustment of industrial construction, eliminating high water consumption, and high polluting industries gradually. Reconstruction of water conservation facilities should be done in high water consumption companies. Ration management should also be implemented in non-industrial industries such as colleges, hotels and hospitals.

Establish a water conservation products certificate and market access system. Using the "national water conservation symbol" to promote the certificate approval and establish a market access system. Water conservation products should be developed and promoted.

Establish a scientific and reasonable price system. Adjust water price rationally to balance supply and demand, optimize water ration, promote water conservation and poison reduction, develop leverage effects in the cycling economy. The standard fee levied for water use should be leveled up gradually and the system management should be enhanced. Multilevel price systems in residential water use should be fully implemented and improved to keep a reasonable burden to citizens but ensure their fundamental demand. As for non-residential water users, the control and adjustment of different prices for different users should be strengthened in regard to industrial policies, and the price system should be improved by coordinating among price-making, control and supervision sectors. Adjust the price of groundwater and surface water and reduce the exploitation of groundwater.

Establish an incentive system. Support water conservation projects which allow outstanding social benefit and reward model units and individuals in establishing a water conservation society (city).

Secondly, enhance the management of groundwater to control land subsidence. Promote intensive water supply and reduce loss caused by damaged pipes.

Strictly control excavating new deep wells. Wells that can access the public surface water supply net should be closed gradually. Groundwater exploitation volume should be controlled at 25 million cubic meters annually until 2010.

According to the guideline, "recharge scientifically, effectively and cleanly,"to enhance the recharge ability and ensure the safety of groundwater. The city's recharge volume is expected to reach 25 million cubic meters until 2010, realizing the balance of exploitation and irrigation.

Statistics from the water affairs department demonstrates that the city's ground water exploitation volume in the first six months of this year has reached 26.07 million cubic meters, a reduction of 8.67 million cubic meters compared to the same period last year. The groundwater recharge volume was 11.326 million cubic meters, up 2.369 million compared to the same period last year. Annual exploitation and irrigation plan is expected to complete successfully.

Construct a new water resource base and form a "two-river collection and multi-source supply" system.

Before 2010, the 58 water drawing mouths which are being used by medium and small water factories should be closed. The factories will be merged to form an intensive water supply structure in the suburban area. Regenerate the water supply pipe net to reduce the loss in transmission, change non-liner leaky pipes which have been in use for over 50 years or ones that are fragile to enhance the water quality and ensure supply service.

To enhance environmental protection and improve ecological environment

To adjust the industrial structure and promote the idea of conserving water among all industries

We'll carry out an environmental protection plan for the next three years and gradually step up our ability and proficiency in sewage processing. By the year 2010, we aim to increase sewage processing ability to 2 million square meters per day with a processing ratio of up to 80 percent. A sewage processing framework will cover the whole city and further improve the water environment.

To develop a water-conscious industry
Industries such as thermal power, petrochemical, chemical and iron and steel industries as well as electronic industries will be regarded as key fields to promote water conservation technology. With the help of water conservation equipment, the amount of water consumption in these key fields will be lowered and the rate of water recycling should improve.

To develop a water-conscious service industry 
Booming service industries like hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other related industries will be key areas to promote water conservation equipment. The management of refrigeration equipment will be enhanced and related factors will be continually renewed from time to time. Water conservation facilities for car washes are highly recommended and will be properly introduced to service industries. All public swimming pools are supposed to use water-conserving shower facilities with recycled water.
   
To develop a water-conscious agricultural industry
Millions of hectares of farmlands, and water resource zones are taken as key fields to promote techniques like irrigation with low-pressure tubes, spraying irrigation and rain collection irrigation.

To reinforce development of non-traditional water resources and to comprehensively promote the utility of water resources

To reserve water in a scientific way and promote water reservation facilities

River water, rain water and reclaimed water are encouraged to be made to their full use for city greenery areas and sight-seeing destinations.

For river management and construction of green lands, water pumping equipment should be installed along riverbanks for plant irrigation. Water left by water plants should be taken advantage of for road washing and when a neighborhood or a building reaches a certain size, setting up reservoirs on roofs should be taken into consideration.

Water-reserved irrigation in agriculture is highly recommended with related facilities to be complemented.

By 2010, all parks and green areas in Shanghai must install water-reserving facilities, and all government buildings as well as public service departments have to be equipped with water-reserving utilities. All pipes for road cleaning should have high pressure and low flux. Water-reserving facilities should cover public areas like stadiums and schools. Tap water flux should be less than nine liters per minute in all public areas and government departments. Newly-built apartments should be equipped with water-reserving toilets and alterations of more than 600,000 old toilets in the urban city will be completed by 2010.

By June this year, all together more than 15,000 toilets have been altered in nearly 60 neighborhoods in Yangpu, Minhang, Xuhui, Changning and Pudong districts, which led to 540 square meters of water being reserved every day. By doing so, over 197,000 square meters of water will be saved annually.

Advice on the execution of the water reservation plan suggests that the responsibilities of all groups and departments concerned should be clearly defined. In order to make a breakthrough in the water conservation campaign, Pudong district, Shanghai Chemical Industry Park and 10 university campuses such as Songjiang University Park along with 20 neighborhoods and 100 companies will be designated as pilot projects for water conservation. Meanwhile, according to the results of these projects, related assessment criteria will be adjusted and improved to promote the idea of saving water in society on a full scale.