China will strengthen water saving in industry and curb the contamination of water to promote harmonious development between industry and environment in the coming ten years.
A recent circular jointly issued by the State Economic and Trade Commission, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Environmental Protection Administration and other related ministries set a goal to control the growth rate of industrial water usage within 1.2 percent in the coming decade.
According to the circular, the recycling rate of industrial water usage will be increased from the current 50 percent to 65 percent in 2010.
Water saving will be focused on thermal power, textiles, the petroleum chemical industry, paper-making, metallurgy and other high water-consuming sectors.
Establishment of water-saving enterprises will be promoted in all sectors in China.
The circular stresses the restructuring of China’s industry and improvement in the proper allocation of water resources. High water-consuming projects will be strictly controlled, and water-saving and pollution control technologies and equipment will be introduced and promoted in China.
Before the new projects are launched, the water-saving plans and the project’s influence on the environment should be included in the project feasibility report, the circular asked.
Other preferential policies will be introduced to encourage development of water-saving technologies and recycling of waste water.
(Xinhua 11/16/2000)
