Strict Measures to Curb Water Shortages In TianjinAuthorities in north China's Tianjin Municipality are taking a series of measures to restrict water usage.The city government set water restrictions for all enterprises and institutions, including schools and army barracks. The water usage limit for a three-member household is eight cubic meters per month. Households that exceed the eight cubic meters will be charged extra. Toilet bowls and taps in households are to be changed to conserve water. Recent regulations also demand closing all car washes and public bathrooms that have no water-saving facilities. The local government will intensify protection on the Hai and Luan rivers, which are two main water suppliers for the whole city. Tianjin hopes to decrease daily water consumption from 1.83 million cubic meters to 1.68 million cubic meters. Four consecutive years of drought in the city has decreased the per capita water resources to 160 cubic meters, one fifteenth of the national average. The drought last year was the most serious one since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, said government officials. Beijing is also taking measures to restrict water consumption. Statistics show that per capita water resources in Beijing stands at 300 cubic meters, about one-eighth of the national average. |
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