It's true: Every drop counts

The World Bank has urged China to overhaul its water management systems to provide better legal protection and more open competition for an increasingly scarce resource.

With 20 percent of the world's population but only 7 percent of its water resources, China faces a severe challenge, says the bank in a report published last month. At present, more than half of China's 660 cities suffer from water shortages, affecting 160 million people.

"There is no doubt that China is facing a major challenge in managing its scarce water resources to sustain economic growth in the years ahead," says David Dollar, the bank's regional director.