[Haichuan Chemical Environmental Protection News] The reuse rate of reclaimed water in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will exceed 30% in 2020

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The last edit to this post was made by Desert Fish on 2017-3-29 at 09:01. According to a report on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website, nine departments jointly issued a notice regarding the \"National Water Conservation Action Plan\" recently. The plan calls for accelerating the reform of water pricing and fully implementing a tiered water pricing system for residential users. By 2020, the reuse rate of industrial water in enterprises above a certain scale is expected to exceed 91%, the reuse rate of reclaimed water in water-scarce cities will be over 20%, and this figure will be above 30% in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The plan proposes to improve the efficiency of industrial water use. Water efficiency should be used as an important basis for adjusting the industrial structure; efforts should be accelerated to develop water-saving enterprises, and the growth of water-intensive industries should be strictly restricted in water-scarce areas. Establish a **catalogue of incentives and phase-outs for industrial water technologies, processes, products, and equipment.** Encourage enterprises to tap into water-saving potential and improve water use efficiency through overall design, process control, and enhanced management, as well as to carry out upgrades to meet water efficiency standards. By 2020, the reuse rate of industrial water in enterprises above a certain scale is expected to exceed 91%, and the water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value will drop below 48 cubic meters. The plan requires promoting water conservation in key water-intensive service industries. Promote the implementation of water-saving technological upgrades in industries such as catering, hotels, and entertainment, and actively adopt reclaimed water and recycled water technologies and equipment on the premise of ensuring safety and rationality. Local authorities should determine the scope of special water use based on actual conditions and implement special water pricing. The plan proposes to vigorously promote green buildings; centralized hot water systems in residential buildings should adopt water circulation measures, and hot water systems that do not meet the standards regarding the time limit for hot water discharge must be upgraded within a specified timeframe. Starting in 2018, large new public buildings and **residential buildings funded by investment should be equipped with building reclaimed water systems. Residents are encouraged to use reclaimed water in their homes; graywater from activities such as laundry, bathing, and household chores, which contains less pollution, is collected and properly treated before being gradually used for flushing toilets. New public buildings must be equipped with water-saving fixtures, and residents in new residential complexes are encouraged to give priority to using such fixtures. The plan also proposes to comprehensively build water-saving cities. Strengthen planning guidance by incorporating urban water conservation requirements into the overall urban plan and regulatory detailed plans, so as to determine production and urban development based on water availability. Implement comprehensive water-saving renovations in urban areas, and advance the reuse of wastewater as well as the utilization of rainwater resources. The plan calls for accelerating the reform of water prices. Deepen the comprehensive reform of agricultural water pricing, establish and improve the mechanism for determining agricultural water prices, and set up mechanisms for targeted subsidies and incentives for water conservation. Strictly implement the progressive pricing system for non-residential water use that exceeds set quotas and plans, as well as the pricing policies for water use in specific industries. Fully enforce the tiered pricing system for residential water use, improve the mechanisms for timely adjustments, and strengthen the management system for prices of water used for rural domestic purposes. The plan emphasizes the need to make active use of unconventional water sources. When constructing urban sewage treatment facilities, space should be reserved for reuse treatment facilities, and reuse storage and distribution facilities should be provided in accordance with the layout of reuse water users. Accelerate the upgrading of wastewater treatment and reuse facilities to increase the scale of high-quality reclaimed water utilization. Reused water should be given priority in areas such as urban greening, road cleaning, vehicle washing, construction, and ecological landscaping. By 2020, the reuse rate of reclaimed water in water-scarce cities is to exceed 20%, while in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region it is to exceed 30%. In coastal cities and islands facing water shortages, desalination of seawater should be used as an important supplement and strategic reserve for water resources. In cities with the necessary conditions, efforts should be accelerated to use desalinated water as a supplementary source for domestic use; local authorities should be encouraged to support desalination projects aimed primarily at supplying water to municipal areas, and demonstration projects for desalination on islands should be implemented. Advance the construction of sponge cities, reduce the proportion of hard surfaces, and enhance the capacity of surfaces to store water, allow it to infiltrate, and conserve water sources. By 2020, over 20% of the built-up areas in cities across the country will meet the requirements set for sponge city construction. The plan also proposes implementing a \"trade-in\" program for efficient water-saving products. Formulate and implement a \"trade-in\" policy for water-using products such as toilets, faucets, and washing machines, and combine it with the management measures for water efficiency labeling as well as mandatory water efficiency standards to encourage the replacement and upgrading of non-water-saving products. Manufacturers are encouraged to carry out \"trade-in\" programs, and local authorities are urged to allocate dedicated funds to encourage water users and manufacturing enterprises to participate on a wide scale.