New plan puts greater water efficiency on tap

Consumption to be tightened and waste cut to protect resource and boost growth

An action plan has been introduced to tighten water consumption as part of high-quality development moves, which aims to improve efficiency in the use of natural resources and better protect the environment while boosting economic growth.

By 2020, water consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,487) of GDP is expected to drop by 23 percent from that in 2015, with a 20-percent reduction in using water to produce 10,000 yuan in industrial added value, according to the plan promulgated by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources on April 15.