An emergency water-saving plan has come into force in the
capital city of Shandong Province because a thousand-year-old
spring seems doomed to dry-up, Xinhua News Agency reported
today.
The plan, announced by Jinan City's Water Saving Office,
requires factories and companies to reduce their planned water
consumption in April and May. Any excess in water consumption will
be charged at nine times the rate of normal water use, the report
said.
Baotu Spring (file
photo)
The city government is hoping that thrift in water use will ease
the drought situation in Baotu Spring, which has been dubbed "The
No.1 spring in the world," the report said.
The landmark spot Baotu Spring has suffered a shortage of water
since a drought hit Jinan last autumn. The water depth is now
around 27.6 meter underground, a red line that indicates a possible
drying up of the 3,543-year-old spring.
Companies and factories in Jinan which is famous for its
spectacular springs are supposed to cut their water consumption by
at least 10 percent while companies in service industry should
decrease by 15 percent, the report said.
The water authorities will also carry out a citywide check on
car-washing shops, bathing houses, schools and neighborhoods to
prevent water wastage, the report said.
Baotu Spring, located in the center of Jinan City, is renowned
for its continuous pouring of water from an underground cave night
and day. Sometimes the water will spout as high as 26.49 meters in
the air, according to the official Website of the spring.
(Shanghai Daily April 18, 2007)
