To fight water crisis and create a better water environment for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Beijing is expected to gradually raise the price of water to 6 yuan or 70 US cents per cubic meter next year.

The current price is 3.8 yuan or neary 50 cents.

Moreover, authorities will hold price hearings to listen to residents' opinions before the details are finalized.

In addition, another two sewage treatment plants will be completed within the year, in a bid to realize treating 1.88 million tons of sewage per day.

52 percent of the city's sewage is expected to be treated within this year.

The capital will also try to improve the efficiency providing recycled water this year.

Meanwhile, Beijing's Water Affairs Bureau has been established to deal with water supply, sewage treatment and other issues related to water. It aims to comprehensively deal with water crisis in Beijing.

(CRI May 20, 2004)