More than 80 products from 16 companies nationwide have been granted water conservation certificates by the China Certification Center for Energy Conservation Products, the country’s only such body.

A center representative said that another 58 products are pending certification.

"We hope the mechanism will encourage manufacturers of water conservation products to upgrade technologies," said an official with the China Certification and Accreditation Administration, noting that the quality of water conservation products in China at present is far from satisfactory.

The certification is expected to promote the concept of water conservation among both manufacturers and consumers.

So far, 50 percent of toilets fail to meet certification standards, said Yue Zongwen, an engineer at the center. There are about 1,000 toilet manufacturers in the country.

Yue said to date more than 200 companies have consulted the center about the certification, with 30 of them submitting products for approval.

Over the longer term, a market entrance system for water conservation products will be established, Yue added.

Gao Zhong, chairman of the board of the Clean Water Alliance, a water business company, said the certification will benefit consumers, manufacturers and the environment. More Chinese consumers are demanding water-efficient products, he added.

"I will certainly buy water efficient showers, taps and toilets," said new Beijing homeowner Jing Peng, "because water prices in Beijing have gone up. In addition, many Chinese cities are suffering from serious water shortages."

(China Daily May 20, 2004)