China aims to utilize more than 18 billion cubic meters of unconventional water this year as part of its efforts to conserve water, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The number is roughly equivalent to six years of water consumption for production and living in Beijing.

The country will strengthen the allocation, management, and utilization of unconventional water and actively coordinate relevant departments to jointly carry out actions on recycled water utilization in key cities, said the ministry.

It strives to improve the recycled water utilization rate within water-scarce cities at the prefecture level and above to over 24 percent this year, the ministry added.

Unconventional water sources primarily refer to recycled and desalinated water. They are an important supplement to conventional water resources.

The development and utilization of unconventional water sources can increase water supply, reduce sewage discharge, and improve water use efficiency, playing a key role in alleviating the contradiction between supply and demand for water resources in China.

(With input from Xinhua)