10.5 Issues
239
electricity privilege, as well as government subsidies (these subsidies could be direct
capital subsidies or indirect subsidies, such as cross-subsidies from other treatment
services), the recycled water producer should have a sustainable financial operation.
However, large investment in supply networks and facilities, as well as unclear users,
hinder the sustainable operation of the producer. In Beijing, the largest recycled water
user is the ecological water by ways of government buying the recycled water to
replenish river flow.
Regarding the users, they will value the benefits of recycled water use and other
sources, mostly freshwater. In Beijing, the recycled water use is no more than 3.5
RMB/m
3 , almost one-third of the tap water price for industry applications; therefore,
the industrial user is very willingly to use the recycled water. Nevertheless, in the other
regions, particularly water-plentiful areas, it is a question to compare to freshwater
resources.
10.5.4 River Basin Management
Until now, all of the recycled water use is planned in the region, not in a river basin
context. This results in some problems, such as efficiency and environment. For
example, with the increasing use of the recycled water use in Beijing, the downstream
outflow decreases significantly, causing problems for the downstream users, as well
as the instream use. At the same time, the long-distance delivery of the recycled water
from the downstream treatment plant (normally, the wastewater treatment plant is
planned in the downstream of the region) to the upstream use has a cost problem.
Therefore, the systematic plan of the recycled water use in a river basin context
is necessary, as well as integrated allocation of water resources. The coordination
mechanism between river basin and region in terms of recycled water use shall
be developed. RBO shall overall, strategically, and systematically coordinate the
recycled water use in the river basin under the objective of river basin water resource
sustainable use. The regional recycled water use plan shall be subordinated to the
river basin recycled water use plan.
10.6 Summary
As an emerging issue in the water sector, the management of the recycled water
use in China is under development and exploration. Although all governmental policies promote the use of the recycled water in the management aspect, many problems have not been dealt with. With the traditional agencies, including MWR and
MOHURD, extending their functions to the recycled water, the unclear management
responsibility, as well as agencies and instruments, is inevitable. These problems
239
electricity privilege, as well as government subsidies (these subsidies could be direct
capital subsidies or indirect subsidies, such as cross-subsidies from other treatment
services), the recycled water producer should have a sustainable financial operation.
However, large investment in supply networks and facilities, as well as unclear users,
hinder the sustainable operation of the producer. In Beijing, the largest recycled water
user is the ecological water by ways of government buying the recycled water to
replenish river flow.
Regarding the users, they will value the benefits of recycled water use and other
sources, mostly freshwater. In Beijing, the recycled water use is no more than 3.5
RMB/m
3 , almost one-third of the tap water price for industry applications; therefore,
the industrial user is very willingly to use the recycled water. Nevertheless, in the other
regions, particularly water-plentiful areas, it is a question to compare to freshwater
resources.
10.5.4 River Basin Management
Until now, all of the recycled water use is planned in the region, not in a river basin
context. This results in some problems, such as efficiency and environment. For
example, with the increasing use of the recycled water use in Beijing, the downstream
outflow decreases significantly, causing problems for the downstream users, as well
as the instream use. At the same time, the long-distance delivery of the recycled water
from the downstream treatment plant (normally, the wastewater treatment plant is
planned in the downstream of the region) to the upstream use has a cost problem.
Therefore, the systematic plan of the recycled water use in a river basin context
is necessary, as well as integrated allocation of water resources. The coordination
mechanism between river basin and region in terms of recycled water use shall
be developed. RBO shall overall, strategically, and systematically coordinate the
recycled water use in the river basin under the objective of river basin water resource
sustainable use. The regional recycled water use plan shall be subordinated to the
river basin recycled water use plan.
10.6 Summary
As an emerging issue in the water sector, the management of the recycled water
use in China is under development and exploration. Although all governmental policies promote the use of the recycled water in the management aspect, many problems have not been dealt with. With the traditional agencies, including MWR and
MOHURD, extending their functions to the recycled water, the unclear management
responsibility, as well as agencies and instruments, is inevitable. These problems