Xinhua
August 13, 2009

BEIJING, (Xinhua) — Less rainfall has prompted Beijing to channel in more than 300 million cubic meters of water from the neighboring Hebei Province as of July, an official said here Wednesday.

In addition, the city has activated the districts of Changping, Huairou and Pinggu as emergency water resources to backup water supply, according to Bi Xiaogang, spokesman with the city’s water authority.

Beijing has received 326 mm of rainfall this year as of Wednesday, 26 percent less than that of the same period of last year, Bi told a press conference.

The two major reservoirs in Miyun and Yanqing districts also saw precipitation dropping by 30 percent and 36 percent respectively over the past seven months compared with the corresponding period of last year.

Bi said the nine water recycling plants in the city had contributed to 17 percent of the annual water consumption, and five more such facilities will be established to increase water supply especially for industrial use.

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