China announces action plan to improve water use efficiency 
On June 21, 2022, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other five government departments announced an action plan to improve water use efficiency in the country. The action plan sets specific targets, including to reduce water withdrawal per unit quantity of each key product by 5% in the chemical and petrochemical industries by 2025, and to increase the industrial water recycling rate to about 94% at locations nationwide that consume more water than a prescribed amount. It also lists specific measures to achieve objectives, such as expediting the promotion of water conservation technology.
Main targets
The action plan sets the following targets for 2025:
- Reduce national water consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,500) of industry value added by 16% from the 2020 level.
- Reduce water withdrawal per 1 ton of steel by 10% in the steel industry, and reduce water withdrawal per unit quantity of each key product by 10% in the paper industry.
- Reduce water withdrawal per unit quantity of each key product by 5% in the petrochemical and chemical industries.
- Reduce water withdrawal per unit quantity of each key product by 15% in the textile, food and non-ferrous metals industry
- Increase the industrial water recycling rate to about 94% at locations nationwide that consume more water than a prescribed amount.
