THE sewage recycling rate in Shenzhen is expected to reach at least 80 percent by 2020 as the city strives to build a model ecological city.
Some 20 percent of the recycled water will be used to replace tap water with the rest to replenish water in landscaped rivers, according to the latest issue of the government gazette.
One of a number of Chinese cities facing serious water shortages, Shenzhen has per capita water availability of less than 160 cubic meters, which amounts to one-12th of the national level and one-11th of the provincial level.
Shenzhen will have a water supply shortfall of 694 million cubic meters by 2020.
More than 75 percent of the water supply comes from the Dongjiang River.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to draw water from the Dongjiang River, measures must be taken to tackle the imminent water shortage and the use of rain water and recycled water needs to be increased, the gazette said.
(SD News)
