Issued by the Ministry of Construction, the new standard is the first one ever set in China concerning criterion of water saving on domestic devices.

The standard includes the specific criterion of water saving for five usual domestic devices in China, namely faucets, flush toilets, valves for water flushing, shower machines and washing machines.

According to the standard, inductive faucets should shut itself2 seconds after the user leaves, and the largest water flow of shower machines should be no more than 0.5 liters in one second.

Specific requirements also go to the water quantity control in valves for water flushing and washing machines.

China is now facing the threat of water shortage, with the per capita water resource less than 2,300 cubic meters, only one-fourth of the world average.

In China's urban areas, the water used residents' daily life has accounted for over 45 percent of the total water used. Therefore the adoption of domestic water saving devices will be an effective way to save water in cities, said an official with the Ministry of Construction.

(People's Daily October 2, 2002)