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China Tackles Water Shortages
China has decided to reform its water pricing system this year to tackle worsening water shortages and waste, one of the biggest problems facing the economy.
Water prices will be gradually raised and water-saving efforts will be enhanced to protect water resources, according to a report in Saturday's Chinadaily.
The existing low price of water is expected to climb up to what the government calls a reasonable level.
To set up a water pricing mechanism under the market economy and to represent the interests of users, China's State Development Planning Commission has outlined some guiding principles for price rises, which will be brought in in stages.
Water plants and waste water treatment centers will become responsible for their own profits and losses, an official with the commission was cited by the paper as saying.
Meanwhile, the commission called for more charges over access to water resources in a move to curb random well drilling.
Penalties will also be set for any users randomly squandering water resources.
China did not take natural resources seriously for a long time, resulting in water being supplied at below-cost prices and the setting up of a large number of unprofitable water plants.
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