Car-wash businesses in Pinggu have stated to use recycled water for since August, the first district in Beijing where these businesses do not use drinking water. The measure can save the district at least 25,600 tons of fresh water annually.

Pinggu has 120,000 registered vehicles and 56 car-washing facilities.

The district government implemented strict measures to control water consumption of these shops by expanding the use of recycled water in August, a report from Beijing Water Authority said on Thursday.

Two vehicles deliver recycled water from a local sewage treatment plant every day to all the car-wash businesses, and each shop has a container of water weighing about 1.2 tons. The vehicles can deliver 80 tons in total every day.

The use of recycled water can save 25,600 tons of fresh water per year, equal to the total consumption of a village of 700 people in a year.

The price of recycled water per ton is about 10 yuan ($1.6), much lower than the price of fresh water which is 160 yuan per ton.