Drought-stricken city begins rationing water

Yueqing, Zhejiang province, will ration water to its residents amid its serious drought, local authorities announced on Monday.

The city will supply water to the residents every other day starting on Oct 25, according to the announcement. During the period, water supplies will be suspended in places such as bathhouses, swimming pools and car washes, and will be restricted for hotels, electroplating factories and construction sites, among other high water consumers, the announcement said.

Normal water supplies will resume when drought conditions improve, it added.

Yueqing, a county-level city under the administration of Wenzhou, has experienced unusually dry weather since July, resulting in low water level in the neighboring Nanxi River, Yueqing's major source of supply.

The city has seen water supply disruptions since the end of September, according to local reports.