Water conservation a key issue in China

China has emphasized water conservation and sustainable development during the "World Water Day".

China has emphasized water conservation and sustainable development during the "World Water Day".

Water conservation and protection is a pressing issue in China, which is one of the world's largest water-using nations. Agricultural irrigation makes up more than 70 percent of the nation's water consumption. But only a third of the water is used effectively, with most wasted during transportation. China's largest industries consume more than twice the amount of water consumed by some developed countries.

Urban water consumption is lower, but public awareness of saving water remains relatively low. The annual amount of water used to wash cars in Beijing is greater than the Kunming Lake at the capital's Summer Palace. China's per capita water usage is 25 percent lower than the world's average. China's water supplies are forecast to remain significantly lower than the global standard, despite the national population expected to climb to more than 1.6 billion by 2030.