The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Water Resources recently issued National Action Plan to Save Water Resources to decrease water consumption per RMB10 000 of GDP by 23%, and that per RMB10 000 of industrial added value by 20%, both by 2020 from 2015’s levels.

Water saving policies, market mechanisms and related standards are to be improved by 2020. In addition, total consumption of water is to be controlled within 670 billion cubic meters by 2022 and within 700 billion cubic meters by 2035, according to the plan.