SHENZHEN is hoping the results of a national assessment will see it become the first city in Guangdong Province to be proclaimed a national model for water conservation.
A national assessment team set up by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Development and Reform Commission conducted an inspection of the city Monday and yesterday to have a closer look at its efforts to conserve water.
The assessment team heard government reports on water saving, visited factories and residential communities during the two-day inspection.
One of several domestic cities facing severe water shortages, Shenzhen began a campaign in 2004 to secure the title of national model, implementing measures to improve all-round water conservation.
Water conservation had become an important index in approving investment projects, according to the city s water resources bureau.
Last year, water consumption per 10,000 yuan (US$1,503) of GDP was 21.89 cubic meters, among the lowest in the country.
More than 80 percent of sewage was treated each year and more than 90 percent of residents had a good awareness of water conservation, according to statistics released by the water resources bureau.
My family of three consumes at most 15 cubic meters of water a month thanks to a good habit of saving water, Lu Ruifeng, the city s executive vice mayor, told the assessment team.
Lu s family is one of the first model families for water conservation in Shenzhen.
An official in charge of water resources, Lu said he hoped to set an example in saving water.
Shenzhen became the first city in South China to legislate for water conservation in 2005.
(Li Hao)
