Water-scarce Beijing will look to meet its annual water consumption goals in part by using supplies recycled from sewage treatment plants for environmental uses such as cleaning roads and watering municipal gardens and green belts.

In 2016, the use of recycled water is expected to reach 1 billion cubic meters, an increase from 950 million cubic meters in 2015. It will continue to increase to 1.2 billion cubic meters by 2020.

The recycled water is sourced from a new type of sewage treatment plant that is cleaner and has higher water quality standards.