Kunming (CNS) -- Kunming, capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province, started to restrict water supplies on December 1, when the region's rainy season had nearly come to its end. Yet drought remains a problem.
The province has suffered from three droughts in a row since 2009. Official meteorological statistics show that rainfall has dropped by nearly 20 percent year on year; only 58 percent of the years goal for water storage has been reached so far in 2011, setting the lowest record in 17 consecutive years.
To overcome the water shortage challenge, the capital city decided to lower the maximum consumption limit in more than 2,500 non-residential units by 10 percent, and by 20 percent in those business units consuming large quantities of water, such as public baths, swimming pools or water recreation centers.
The plan is valid from December 1 to next May 31. Those violating the regulation will be fined for their excess, charged 1.5 times the normal water price for what they over consume.
To cope with the policy adjustment, car wash stations and swimming pools in Kunming are raising their service prices 20 to 50 percent. Other services that classify as high water consumers have invested in water-circulation systems to save on their water costs.
