China managed to keep its annual water consumption well within 610 billion cubic meters from 2014 to 2023, despite its GDP almost doubling during that time, said Li Liangsheng, vice-minister of water resources.
That happened thanks to enhanced efficiency of water use in the industrial and agricultural sectors and the utilization of reclaimed water, he told a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office.
During that time, water consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,380) of GDP dropped by 41.7 percent, he said.
Li highlighted efforts the country has made to beef up water efficiency in the agricultural sector.
China has 70 million hectares of irrigated farmland. Though only covering 55 percent of the country's total, such farmland provided 77 percent of the country's grain and more than 90 percent of commercial crops, he said.
"This irrigated farmland has provided an effective guarantee for continuous increases in the country's grain output for 20 straight years," he said.
"During that time, water used for irrigation has maintained zero growth."
The ministry has promoted water-saving transformations in large and medium-sized irrigated areas and upgraded water diversion facilities, he said.
That helped bring down the average water consumption per hectare of irrigated farmland from 6,030 cubic meters in 2014 to the current 5,460 cubic meters, he added.
To cap agricultural water use, meters connected to the internet have been installed in water intakes of all irrigated areas larger than 3,333 hectares, he said.
Hu Zijian, director of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development's department of urban construction, said China has made progress in utilizing reclaimed water in urban areas, with pilot programs rolled out in 116 cities.
Currently, roughly 18 billion cubic meters of reclaimed water is utilized in the country's urban areas every year, representing 29 percent of the total, he said.
Related articles:
Related suggestion:
Takeaways from AP's story on the BP oil spill medical settlement's shortcomingsTakeaways from AP's story on the BP oil spill medical settlement's shortcomingsWhat does Europe want from China?United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nationChampions League semis: Bayern hosts Madrid then Dortmund welcomes PSG'Alarm bells go off when there's a 20Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent would rather make love with 'a cheese grater' than have sex with exAmanda Holden showcases her toned figure in an elegant coral red dress as she runs errandsSarah Paulson, 49, talks aging gracefully without Botox: 'I don't shoot anything into my face'Russian missiles slam into a Ukraine city and kill 17 people as the war approaches a critical stage
2.429s , 6507.3515625 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Water use remains steady as GDP increases ,Worldly Wonders news portal