QINGDAO is constructing the country’s largest sea water desalination project to increase its drinking water supply.

    The project was planned to provide 100,000 cubic meters of desalinized water every day and is expected to go into operation in July next year, which can provide water to 500,000 residents.

    Comparatively short of fresh water, Qingdao initiated a demonstration project to use sea water to flush toilets in 2008. Many residential buildings and hotels have been using the sea water to clean toilets. The Longchen Yuyuan Hotel in the city’s development zone has also directed sea water to its swimming pools.

    The city is expected to desalinize 200,000 tons of sea water each day in the next five years, according to planners.

    The city makes use of 1.2 billion tons of sea water each year, which can be converted into 60 million cubic meters of fresh water.(Li Hao)