[Mainland China] Reclaimed Water Utilization Exceeds 5.4 Billion m³ in 76 Pilot Cities; Ministry of Water Resources Releases 10 Advanced Models and 14 Typical Cases

Introduction

The Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) recently announced that the reclaimed water utilization and allocation pilot programs in 76 typical regions across 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) have been completed successfully. Total reclaimed water use in the pilot cities rose from 2.9 billion m³ to 5.4 billion m³, the utilization rate increased from 26% to 41%, and total investment in the pilot projects reached RMB 65.4 billion. Focusing on five areas—optimizing layout, allocation management, expanding utilization, improving facilities, and refining policies—the MWR categorized and summarized 10 advanced models and formed 14 typical cases, providing replicable templates for nationwide promotion of reclaimed water allocation and utilization.

I. Pilot Completion: A Critical Leap from Demonstration Leadership to Nationwide Routine

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, six ministries—the Ministry of Water Resources, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment—jointly issued the Pilot Plan for Reclaimed Water Utilization and Allocation in Typical Regions, deploying 76 pilot cities nationwide. Through systematic implementation, the pilot cities developed a set of effective, sustainable, and scalable advanced models and typical cases.

Key results during the pilot period include:

• Reclaimed water volume doubled — total reclaimed water use in the pilot cities rose from 2.9 billion m³ to 5.4 billion m³, an increase of 86%.
• Utilization rate rose sharply — from 26% to 41%, an increase of 15 percentage points.
• Water use structure optimized — the share of reclaimed water in total water use rose from 7% to 13%.
• Substantial investment — total investment in reclaimed water projects reached RMB 65.4 billion, driving coordinated development across the industry chain.

II. Ten Advanced Models: Spanning Planning, Allocation, Utilization, Production and Delivery, and Incentives

The MWR categorized and evaluated 10 advanced models, spanning the full chain of reclaimed water planning, allocation, utilization, production and delivery, and incentives:

• Planning-led facility layout — incorporate reclaimed water into unified urban water resources planning, coordinated with water supply, drainage, and water conservation plans.
• Coordinated multi-source allocation — integrate surface water, groundwater, transferred water, reclaimed water, and rainwater for unified dispatch.
• Target-driven quota management — set binding reclaimed water utilization targets and incorporate them into the strictest water resources management assessment.
• Digital-twin supervision of water quantity and quality — use digital tools for online monitoring and intelligent scheduling across the entire production, delivery, and use chain.
• Large-scale substitution across regions — promote reclaimed water as a large-scale substitute for conventional water sources in industrial parks, municipal landscaping, and ecological replenishment.
• Price incentives and market mechanisms — introduce incentive policies covering pricing, fiscal subsidies, water use quota allocation, water rights trading, and green finance.
• Integrated construction of production and delivery facilities — advance reclaimed water plant construction and pipeline network extension in tandem, resolving the pain point of production-use separation.
• Ecological value conversion — use reclaimed water for river and lake ecological replenishment to improve water environment quality and realize the value of ecological products.
• Lower industrial water costs — encourage high-water-consumption enterprises to use reclaimed water, significantly reducing overall industrial water costs.
• Synergy of water conservation, pollution reduction, and carbon reduction — leverage the multiple benefits of water substitution, reduced wastewater discharge, and lower carbon emissions.

III. Fourteen Typical Cases: Replicable Practice Templates for All Regions

Building on these models, the MWR selected 14 typical cases with notable results, covering regions with different climates, water resource endowments, and industrial structures, providing referenceable practical experience for nationwide promotion of reclaimed water allocation and utilization.

The typical cases cover:

• Water-scarce cities — such as Shizuishan in Ningxia and Huaibei in Anhui, which break through water resource bottlenecks through full substitution of conventional sources with reclaimed water.
• Water-abundant cities — such as Dongguan in Guangdong, which use distributed allocation systems and innovative water rights trading mechanisms to promote on-site and nearby reclaimed water use.
• Municipalities and provincial capitals — such as Bishan in Chongqing and Beijing, which build large-scale reclaimed water pipeline network systems.
• Industry-dominated cities — leveraging centralized treatment and cascading reuse in industrial parks to significantly reduce industrial water costs.

IV. Industry Outlook: Reclaimed Water Moves from Supplementary Source to Strategic Source

With the successful completion of the pilot programs in 76 cities, reclaimed water utilization is transitioning from demonstration leadership to routine practice nationwide. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, reclaimed water will continue to advance in the following directions:

• Scale expansion — more cities will join the reclaimed water allocation system, with total reclaimed water use expected to keep rising.
• Standard refinement — standards for reclaimed water quality, distribution networks, and use scenarios will be further improved.
• Market activation — market mechanisms such as water rights trading, concessions, and contracted water saving will be rolled out faster.
• Technological upgrading — membrane treatment, smart water, and AI-based precision control will continue to improve the efficiency and economics of reclaimed water production.

This article is compiled from MWR public notices, a Guangming Daily report dated August 8, 2026, and publicly available industry information.

About TIANYI TECH Co., Ltd. (TIANYI LIMITED)

TIANYI TECH Co., Ltd. specializes in wastewater treatment and water reuse, and is committed to providing municipal and industrial customers with efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable water treatment solutions. The company's business spans wastewater treatment engineering design, water reuse system construction, membrane separation technology applications, and smart water operation services, helping customers achieve water resource recycling as well as energy-saving and emission-reduction goals.