World Water Day: China vows to rein in water consumption

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01:39

Today is the 27th annual World Water Day, and the first day of this year's China Water Week, with a theme focusing on better water resource management. China's government stresses that it will keep the nation's water usage in check. Victor Ning has more.

China continues to cut down its water usage.

Consumption of water for every 10 thousand yuan of GDP in 2017 was down 30% from five years earlier.

But, because of over exploitation of ground water, inefficient irrigation, and high industrial waste, the danger of water shortage still looms over the country.

WEI SHANZHONG CHINESE VICE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES "Over exploitation of groundwater in northern China now accounts to 5.5 billion cubic meters, causing damage to the environment, land subsidence, and the shrinking of rivers and lakes."

The Chinese government now estimates that the nation's water usage in 2020 will not breach 670 billion cubic meters.

Tasks for this year include strengthening water resource monitoring, and reigning in groundwater exploitation.

WEI SHANZHONG CHINESE VICE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES "We will also upgrade industries to improve efficiency and explore the potential of unconventional water sources, such as sea water."

China's economy faces downward pressure.

However, the country's Ministry of Water Resources insists that China will not trade water resources in exchange for growth. Victor Ning, CGTN.