China's national quality control center for water-saving and irrigation equipment has been set up in Hefei City, capital of east China's Anhui Province.
The center, the first of its kind in the country, is located in the city's economic and technology development zone.
China has long been plagued with droughts and water shortages in many areas, while it also suffers from severe water wastage because of various factors including the lack of water-efficient technology and equipment.
In 2000, the government pledged to make cities water-efficient by introducing water-saving equipment nationwide. By 2005, all equipment that fails to meet the national water-efficient standards will be rejected for manufacture or use in China.
The government invested 15 million yuan (US$1.8 million) in building the first phase of this quality control center.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2003)
