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Beijing residents are being warned to start taking action to save water or face a massive shortage of 1.1 billion cubic meters by 2008.

The estimate of the shortage was based on the city's current water consumption and efficiency levels, said Ma Weifang with the city's sustainable development promotion committee.

The city's annual per capita reserve stands at about 300 cubic meters, while an acute shortage is generally deemed to be 1,000 cubic meters or less.

But the situation could still be salvaged if all conservation measures were implemented and use of recycled water increased, Ma said.

Last year, the city consumed 3.45 billion cubic meters of water, of which 2.67 billion cubic meters was ground water and 260 million was recycled.

Only 35 percent of the recycled water was used effectively, which was both worrying and encouraging for further efficiencies, Ma said.

Beijing, which has promised a "green Olympics," will have installed water-saving devices in all public places by the end of June. Residents are required to put water-saving devices on taps, toilets and showers by the end of this year.

The city has raised charges on tap water in a bid to cut consumption. Residents are being urged to use recycled water for plants and washing cars.

Wasting water is now a criminal offense incurring a fine of up to 10,000 yuan (US$1,400).

Experts also called for better protection of Beijing's suburban Miyun and Guanting reservoirs, which provide a quarter of the city's water.

Droughts in the past seven years have reduced usable water in Guanting to 25 million cubic meters by the end of April, a 91 percent drop from the average recorded figure.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2006)