Water use remains steady as GDP increases

China managed to keep its annual water consumption well within 610 billion cubic meters from 2014 to 2023, despite its GDP almost doubling during that time, said Li Liangsheng, vice-minister of water resources.

That happened thanks to enhanced efficiency of water use in the industrial and agricultural sectors and the utilization of reclaimed water, he told a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office.

During that time, water consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,380) of GDP dropped by 41.7 percent, he said.