China plans to crack down on polluters and hold national water consumption below 670 billion cubic metres through 2020. That was the word Wednesday from the National Development and Reform Commission.

The NDRC also said that it aims to cap total water consumption at less than 700 cubic metres a year through 2030. That's as part of efforts to ease chronic water shortages. Water consumption last year stood at 635 billion cubic metres.

That was up from 555 billion cubic metres in 2004. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said that the water quality in several regions has deteriorated significantly despite commitments to crack down on polluters.

The NDRC pledged to ensure that three quarters of China's surface water was fit for human consumption by 2030.