The issue of water scarcity in Beijing is often ignored. We all think that Beijing, being a megacity, surely cannot be experiencing water scarcity! However, water scarcity is indeed present in Beijing, and this overlooked problem has placed an increasing burden on the government.

One of the biggest causes of water scarcity is climate change. A study published in 2022 titled “Response of Domestic Water in Beijing to Climate Change” found an increase in climate change caused an increase in domestic water consumption. Using historical meteorological data and domestic water use data, they found that the relationship between annual domestic water consumption and climate change in Beijing was 177.23 million m³/°C (shown in Figure 1). This means that for every one degree increase in Beijing’s average temperature, Beijing’s annual domestic water consumption increases by 177.23 million m^³ of water.

On average, every person’s water consumption increases by 8.1 m³ of water per year. To put that into context, 8.1 m^³ is the size of 27 300L bathtubs or 16,200 500mL water bottles. It is important to note that this is only for domestic water consumption: it does not take into account industrial water consumption. This means that the effect of climate change on total water consumption in Beijing is even greater.

Figure 1: The relationship between climate domestic water consumption and temperature

Not only does climate change affect water consumption, but it also affects the availability of freshwater. With the average global temperature rising by around 3.5 degrees in the past century, 82 percent of China’s glaciers have retreated since the 1950s, which means a fifth of the ice cover has disappeared since the 1950s.

So, what’s the greatest consumption of water in China? Overall, agriculture takes up 67 percent of total water withdrawal in China. However, in recent years, domestic water use has risen to become the number one usage of water in Beijing, which makes domestic water use a significant cause of water scarcity.

Figure 2: Total water consumption in different sectors

The consequences of water consumption are widespread. In 2014 there was on average 145 m^³ of renewable freshwater available per person in Beijing. This might seem like a lot, but according to the UN “When annual water supplies drop below 1,000 m^³ per person, the population faces water scarcity, and below 500 cubic metres ‘absolute scarcity’.”  The depletion of water sources has caused the Chaoyang zone to sink by 4.3 inches (around 11cm), even though 70 percent of water is already coming from the South-to-North water diversion project.

Water from other provinces is incredibly expensive and will be even more so in the future. The South-to-North water diversion project has cost China USD 60 billion to construct. Based on the predictions from the trend relating to climate change and domestic water consumption, the additional cost to transport water from other provinces to Beijing in 2035 compared to 2019 could amount to CNY 391-706 million!

One solution that has already been implemented is the South-to-North water diversion project. It links China’s four main rivers (the Yellow River, the Huaihe River, the Haihe River, and the Yangtze River) together, diverting “44.8 billion cubic meters of water annually to the population centers in northern China,” spanning a total of 4,350km, and holds records for the world’s largest water diversion volume, largest water diversion distance, largest population benefited and largest scope of benefited. Of course, some are worried that because water consumption is still on the rise, the South-to-North water diversion project is only a short-term solution. Others even believe that this only distracts from focusing on the root of the issue.

Figure 3: Map of the South-to-North water diversion project routes.

Another solution is to encourage virtual water flows. These are indirect flows of water caused by the transportation of products containing water. The water intensive activities are done in one province, and then the products are transported to another. One example is the transportation of grain. A lot of water was used to grow the grain, and after it has been harvested, it is transported to the city.

According to research: “The virtual water flow in urban agglomerations significantly alleviated the water stress in the central city, where the actual water stress index decreased by an average of 12% compared with the hypothetical water stress index after virtual water flows.”  However, the side effect is that cities providing virtual water flows have an increase in water stress levels.

Figure 4: The actual water stress levels (shown with the black outlined boxes) compared to hypothetical water stress levels (shown with blue dotted-line boxes). Levels above 1.0 on the y-axis means water scarcity in that city is significant.

We all have our part to play in reducing water scarcity. Governments have to work on developing “science- and evidence-based policies that capitalize on data and innovation to improve water planning and management” to combat water scarcity. When planning solutions and deciding which areas need support, we must take into account the quality of water.

Because farmers already deal with water on a daily basis, they should “take [the]lead in finding and implementing water scarcity solutions.” To do so would require us to provide them with “appropriate technologies, training, and timely, accurate information.” There should also be a greater proportion of farmers participating in the planning and decision-making process.

Each and every one of us has to value water. After all, we use up the most water in the economy. The UN says we should make “informed decisions about the products we buy.” Wasting less water when cooking or washing our hands are simple everyday actions that can all add up to reducing water scarcity. You can also raise awareness on the issue. Share this article with your friends and family!

This article was written by a group of students from Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS).

Terrence Yu is a Year 11 student who enjoys volleyball, music, and solving mathematical problems. He was drawn to this issue by curiosity: Why is Beijing as a megacity facing the problem of severe water scarcity? What are some causes, consequences, and solutions for it?

Jessica Zhao is a Year 11 student who enjoys playing music and doing crafts. She was drawn to this issue by curiosity: What has caused this problem? What could we do to help? What is already done and planned for the future?

Eric Zhang is a Year 11 student who enjoys playing football and reading novels. He was drawn to this issue by curiosity: Are people who live in Beijing aware that the city they are living in has the problem of water scarcity? What should different people in society do to help solve the problem?

Sum Chan is a Year 11 student who enjoys swimming, playing the guitar, and loves to learn about physics. He is very interested in the topic because he wasn’t particularly aware of the water scarcity in Beijing.

Images: Courtesy of students, Pexels

There’s a lot to be said for messing about in boats, and simply drifting lazily on a lake. Boating season in Beijing is now upon us, and many of the boating lakes around the city (mostly located in Xicheng and Haidian districts) have been open since Mar 16.

We’ve rounded up Beijing’s boating options by area, but have left The Old Summer Palace (圆明园) in Haidian and Jingdong Grand Canyon京东大峡谷 in Changping, off the list for now, since they’re currently not available for boating.

Please note that we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of the prices listed below, as there is a variety of boating options. It is advisable to bring cash with you since some of the parks only accept cash for deposit payments.

Beihai Park

This centrally-located scenic park is home to a lake that covers an area of around 390sqm, and surrounds its iconic white tower. The park has over 460 boats for rental, including electric and pedal powered, at seven terminals scattered in the park. Professional boatmen are also on site to offer boating services.

RMB 120 per hour plus RMB 400 (pedalos)/ RMB 500 (electric boats) for deposit. Daily 6.30am-9pm. 

Houhai

Tucked into one of the city’s most famous hutong areas, the artificial lake of Houhai still retains its charm and liveliness nearly 700 years since it was built, and attracts those who fancy a leisurely afternoon out, thanks to its beautiful scenery, the various entertainment it provides, and the wide option of bars and restaurants nearby.

RMB 120 per hour plus RMB 200 as the deposit. Daily 10am-8pm.

Taoranting Park

Taoranting Park hosts Taoran Pavilion, one of the top four pavilions in China. There are two separate spots in the park that allow boating, with over 200 boats including pedalos, electric and rowing boats. The vintage boats in the west terminal, however, are the most eye-catching and popular.

RMB 120 per hour plus RMB 300 for deposit. Daily 6am-9.30pm.

Yuyuantan Park

Yuyuantan Park is one of the greenest parks in the city and home to a wide range of beautiful cherry blossom trees. The bank along the lake is heavily planted with the photogenic trees, offering a great blossom fix while you drift around on the lake. The park has over 700 boats to choose from, including pedalos and electric boats.

RMB 80 per hour plus RMB 200 as the deposit for 4-person pedalos; RMB 100 per hour plus RMB 300 deposit for 6-person pedalos; RMB 150/180 per hour plus RMB 300/400 deposit for 6-person electric boats; RMB 100/130/150 per hour plus RMB 300/400 deposit for 4-person electric boats. Daily 6.30am-7pm.

Summer Palace

The beautiful traditional royal garden, numerous pavilions and ancient temples make the Summer Palace a great place visit all year round. Kunming Lake covers an area of 2.2 square kilometers, which is five times as large as Beihai, and is one of the most popular skating places in winter, and boating place in summer. Pedalos, row boats, and electric boats are all available.

RMB 60 per hour for 4-person pedalos, RMB 80 per hour for 6-person pedalos, RMB 120 per hour for row boats, RMB 120 per hour for normal electric boats, RMB 180 per hour for antique-style electric boats. RMB 400 deposit for padelos, rowboats and electric boats, and RMB 500 deposit for the antique-style electric boats. Daily 7am-5pm.

Zizhuyuan Park

Located next to Xizhimen, Zizhuyuan is known as “the heaven of bamboos” with pavilions, bridges, and traditional building that are all built from bamboo. Entertainments such as bamboo sedan-sitting and diabolo playing, as well as bamboo-made crafts add extra charm to this long-standing park. Pedalos and electric boats are available.

RMB 80-100 per hour, plus RMB 300 for deposit. Daily 6am-9pm.

READ: The Best Spots to Enjoy Plum Blossom Season in Beijing

More stories by this author here.
Email: kuang@thebeijinger.com

Photos: Unsplash, Beijing.com, Mafengwo.cn

You’re in the middle of nowhere when your child asks you for some water. You reach into your purse to discover you left your Watsons drink in the cab that hurriedly sped away after getting his money. You turn to your husband to ask for his water but he tells you he forgot it in the cab as well. How you both left your water bottles in the cab beats me, so before you can argue with the author of your silly predicament about the strange story she’s put you in, your child reminds you of her still unquenched thirst. You breathe, focus, and then look around for the nearest convenience store.

Aha! You spot one—it’s just right across the street. You troop your family to the convenience store and there ask for a few bottles of water. The tummy-exposed, hole-ridden-couch-lying vendor grunts his displeasure that his TV watching has been interrupted for just a few kuai, and he grabs a few bottles and rolls it towards you without breaking eye contact with his show. “Six kuai,” he says in Chinese, although in your country that sounded more like a reprimand than a statement. Your child’s almost lifeless grumble brings you back to the present and as you grab the water bottles and slowly reach one out to your child one thought suddenly crosses your mind.

Wait, is this safe?

Your child reaches for the water bottle just as you pull your own arm back, mommy instincts suddenly going into overdrive. “Do you have anything else other than this?” You ask in your elementary Chinese as you try to return the bottles. The bottles are so soft they succumb almost effortlessly when you accidentally squeezed. You remember that recent post about Drinking Waters and Shower Filters and can’t help but gulp down worry.

“No, that’s all,” says the vendor, annoyed that you’re still there. Your daughter screams at you for keeping her precious water away from her, and she’s seconds away from jumping up and down and releasing her unforgiving Intense Scream of Hatred. You sigh with resignation. You give the rest of the bottles to your husband and open one for your child, who downs the whole bottle as if she had just walked through a desert.

And finally you do the one thing you’ve been meaning to do since this fiasco began. You look up to the heavens knowing I’m still typing your story and you go, “Why in the world is there only one type of bottled water in that man’s shop?!”

Hmm.

If you’ve been in the same situation once or twice before (not referring to the screaming-to-the-heavens part) or feel you might be faced with one during your expat years in the capital, then you’ve come to the right post. You’ll encounter a bunch of water bottles during your stay here in China, and yet won’t really have any way of knowing which is your best option unless you have a Xiaomi TDS and a little cup to test your water’s PPM. In other words, it’s just a load of 麻烦 (má fan). Fortunately dear reader you’ve got us, and we’re here to tell you whether or not you’ve chosen the right poison (err… drink).

To aid in our quest for the best on-the-go water option is the Xiaomi TDS Pen Water Quality Tester, a nifty device that looks quite similar to a pen on the outside but is secretly a water purity spy for us Beijing-based folks. The instructions are simple enough: take off the cap, press the ON button and dip it in the water in question. A few seconds is all it takes for the TDS Value to appear on the tiny screen.

You’ll want this number as low as possible, because a high value means that the water you’re about to drink might be high in dissolved solids or worse—not within drinkable ranges. If you’re wondering what “dissolved solids” here means, here’s how Xiaomi explains it:

So for this experiment I chose some popular water options amongst foreigners, some amongst locals, and some from one of the nearby newspaper stores. And then I list their respective TDS levels and their price per bottle. Unless stated otherwise, prices below are all Carrefour prices.

So here are the results:

1. Snow Mountain Mineral Water: Differs from water bottle to water bottle, but generally straddles between 238 to 271 ppm, (RMB 5 for 510ml)
I was very surprised to discover that this water’s TDS Value was so high, considering that it’s quite expensive and that there’s this famous movie company that uses this. To make sure it wasn’t just the problem wasn’t with the specific bottle I had bought, I decided to purchase another one at Carre Four. The number went lower, but really not by much. So for those who think that price always means quality, I’m not sure that’s the case here.

2. C’est bon Purified Drinking Water: 6 ppm (RMB 3 for 350ml in our neighborhood shop but just the same price as Nongfu elsewhere)
This is a popular choice amongst my friends since it costs almost the same as a bottle of Nongfu, which honestly surprises me considering it’s a foreign brand. Also, considering how low the ppm is it’s definitely a steal!

3. Nongfu Spring Water （Natural Stone Mineral Water): 35 ppm, (RMB 2.35 for 535ml)
I first met this version of Nongfu on the bullet train to Tianjin, when we visited the Aircraft Carrier Theme Park. I remember it costing around RMB 6 during that ride, and found it quite pricey at the time. But now that I’ve checked its ppm level I think it was the right choice. After all, I was buying it not just for myself but for my kids to drink as well.

4. Watsons Water (the green bottle): 1 ppm (RMB 2.40 for 400ml)
Watsons seems to be the number one option for expats, but my beef with this famous brand is that it’s quite pricey. I know, I know, you can’t put a price on health. But when you’re buying liters and liters of this you really need to ask yourself if spending that much on water really needs to be such a high priority (P.S. Check out that A++ ppm level!)

5. Hosanmi Drinking Natural Mineral Water (Deep Volcano Mineral Water): 122 ppm, (RMB 3.5 for 542ml)
I bought this water as well because it was one of the options at our neighborhood convenience store. It looks AND sounds cool – Deep Volcanic Mineral Water – whoa that’s got to be freaking healthy right? But I was surprised to see a high ppm level from this particular mineral water. Hm. Oh well. Looks were quite deceiving after all.

6. Nongfu Spring Water (the normal one): 66 ppm, (RMB 1.5 for 550ml)
A popular choice amongst many Chinese I know because, well, it’s Nongfu. It’s a big name, and even with its scandal years ago I still see a lot of people drinking it. Worse, many leave it in their cars which, when warmed, makes the bottles release antimony, a trace heavy metal that has been linked to several diseases.

7. Master Kong Bottled Water (Kangshi Fu) : 11ppm (RMB 8.8 for 550ml x 12 at Carrefour, RMB 2 for 550ml at the newspaper shop)
This honestly came as a big surprise to me, considering how cheap it is! This bottled water would have definitely never made my list of waters to drink had I not tested it.

8. Ganten Natural Mineral Water: 39 ppm (RMB 3.6 for 570ml)
This has been our choice water for awhile, not realizing that C’est bon was actually better in terms of ppm level! But it’s still good to know that our bottled water’s TDS gauge is still within the highest purity limit.

9. Bing Lu Purple Olympic brand: 22ppm (RMB 1.8 for 550ml)
Anything with the Olympic seal will catch a fan’s attention, and fortunately the TDS levels are within acceptable range.

10. Evergrande Spring: 87ppm (RMB 4 at the newspaper shop)
This is one of the three bottled waters I saw at the newspaper shop, and naturally I decided to also test this. For those who have to choose between this bottled water and Nongfu, the latter is still a better choice.

So the winner of the Water Purity contest is…. Watsons! But availability might be a problem especially for those traveling. In those cases, C’est bon, Ganten, and fortunately Master Kong bottled waters are great alternatives as well.

Photos: Xiaomi and Jackie Park

Is Beijing water safe to drink?
According to Environmental Engineering students from Tsinghua University, Beijing water as it leaves the treatment plant has been tested and was found to be safe and adequate for human consumption. In the line before it reaches your home it could possibly pick up contaminants from the pipe line or breaks in the line. If you filter the water at your home, you can remove pollutants that may have gotten in on the way.

Many people are afraid of the pollutants tap water may have and choose to drink only bottled water. Bottled water is not necessarily different from filtered tap water. It is most convenient to install a good quality water filter at home. Filtered tap water should be as safe for cooking and drinking as bottled water. If you have a filter, make sure you change the filter cartridge periodically to insure the water quality is maintained.

Why is water important?
As you have probably heard more than 60% of the human body is made up of water, and it is responsible for many body functions such as the transportation of nutrients and oxygen, moistening and cleaning several surfaces such as eyes, mouth, nose and lungs, lubricating the movement of the joints, controlling body temperature and helping remove toxins from our body.

How much water do we need to drink per day?
The amount of water needed per day varies with the amount of physical activity, food intake and environmental temperature; in dry climates such as Beijing it is important to drink more. As a baseline we should try to stay above 8 cups of liquid per day. For someone who is pregnant it should be at least 10 and for a breastfeeding mother at least 13. If you are eating abundant juicy fruits and veggies you may be supplying up to 20% of your daily water requirement. Some fruits are greatly hydrating. You should not consider black tea and coffee to be hydrating drinks. Caffeine actually takes water away from the body, so for each cup of tea or coffee you drink take at least one cup of water.

If the color of your urine is clear or light yellow this means you’re getting enough fluids. Lack of water causes dehydration which drains your energy and makes you feel tired.

Can you drink too much water?
Yes, people diagnosed with heart conditions or low salt levels must restrict their daily water intake.

When is the best time to drink water?
It is best to drink water all throughout the day, but not at meals. When you are eating a meal your stomach is full already and adding volume will distend the stomach, dilute the gastric juices, delay digestion and increase the probability of gastric reflux (heart burn).

Once you have gone to sleep avoid getting up to drink water. During the night your body including your kidneys should rest and if you develop a full bladder will make it more difficult to maintain your sleep until morning.

If you feel intensely thirsty it means that you have fallen behind in the hydrating process. You are already late. You must anticipate and drink water before you become thirsty.

Water is not only important to keep us healthy, energetic, and looking young and beautiful, it is also important in the healing process of many illnesses such as coughs and nasal congestion. It is an excellent expectorant, it helps clean and relieve urinary tract symptoms when there is an infection or kidney stone, and it will also help relieve constipation and most headaches.

Something that may help you take enough water every day is adding lemon to the water, and to keep a handy water bottle close to you wherever you go.

Need more info?  
Dr. Dorothy Dexter is a family medicine physician at Beijing United Family Hospital. She has several years of clinical experience, and speaks English and Spanish. Contact her at dorothy.dexter@ufh.com.cn.

This article originally appeared on page 22 of the 2016 June-July Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

Photo: Pezibear-Pixabay

Paying for utilities is a pain at the best of times, but language barriers can turn what should be a simple task into a Sisyphean undertaking. Those lucky enough to live in villas and serviced apartments will likely have their utilities taken care of by the management office or a rental agency, but the majority of expats will need to learn how to recharge an electricity card or pay a water bill at some point. Here is a crash course on setting up and paying for electricity, natural gas, water, and Internet.

Central Heating 暖气
Central heating is included in the price of rent in Beijing. Typically, the heat is turned on on November 15 and turned off on March 15 unless temperatures are unseasonably low. Most apartments have air conditioning units with heat settings that can be used to fill the gap between the onset of cold and the arrival of central heating. The latter compounds Beijing’s dryness by stripping moisture from the air, so be sure to invest in a couple of humidifiers.

Water 水
In water-starved Beijing, household water is relatively expensive at around RMB 4 to 5 per cubic meter. As with gas, an employee from the water company will periodically come by your house to check the water meter. They may ask for payment on the spot – in which case you should always ask for a receipt – or give you an invoice, which can be paid online or at the bank.

Electricity电
Unlike in the West, most utilities are prepaid here. Electricity use is administered by State Grid (国家电网 guó jiā diàn wǎng) and tracked through meters tied to apartments, villas, and siheyuan (traditional courtyard homes). Typically, newer buildings have a single meter per household while siheyuan and older buildings might have more than one.

The newest generation of electricity cards – known as “smart cards” (智能电表购电卡 zhì néng diàn biǎo gòu diàn kǎ) in Chinese – can be topped up online on platforms like Alipay and WeChat Wallet. Electricity can also be purchased in person at the bank or using specialized machines located in State Grid offices, select banks (Bank of Beijing, ICBC, China Merchants Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, China Everbright Bank), and convenience stores. Though these machines have Chinese-only interfaces, the procedure for buying electricity is quite simple; just ask an employee to demonstrate.

Some siheyuan use a clunkier system where residents must write down the serial number of the electricity meter(s), go to China Postal Savings Bank, and tell the clerk how much money to recharge to each meter, but this is relatively rare. Note that only cash is accepted for these transactions.
Electricity costs just under RMB 0.50 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for residential use. The bill can vary significantly from month to month depending on the season and housing type. For example, old and poorly-insulated hutong homes with electric radiators tend to eat up a lot of power in the winter.

Natural Gas 燃气
In most compounds, natural gas for cooking and heating water is piped directly into homes, included in the rent, and overseen by the management office (物业 wùyè). Sometimes, an employee from the gas company will knock on your door and ask to check the meter. They will then give you an invoice on the spot or tape it to your front door a few days later. The bill can be paid online, or in person at the bank or post office.
Many Beijing residents resort to top-up cards that can be recharged online or at select banks. After it has been recharged, the card must be inserted into the gas meter and held for a few seconds. When you hear a “beep,” that means the balance has been updated.

Gas costs RMB 2.28 or RMB 3.23 per cubic meter depending on the compound. This is because high-end residential complexes tend to use more expensive “commercial” gas (工商业 gōng shāngyè), the same type found in restaurants and commercial establishments.
Older homes and hutong houses sometimes have propane tanks for cooking that require periodic changing. This involves calling Beijing Gas and arranging for a new tank to be delivered; this should cost around RMB 120 for a 50 jin tank (around 21L). Beware of black market propane vendors; tanks can cost as low as RMB 70-90, but there is no guarantee on the quality or safety of the contents.

Internet 宽带
There are three state-owned network providers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. China Mobile is considered to have better coverage nationwide, while China Unicom has the most comprehensive Internet and mobile data packages. China Telecom is less popular with users largely because fewer unlocked iPhone models are compatible with its 4G LTE network. See the Resources box for more on network compatibility.
China Unicom has several high-speed Internet packages: Internet only, Internet plus landline, and Internet plus 4G. For reference, urban residents can expect to pay RMB 1,480 per year for 4MB/20MB speeds; RMB 1,780 for 50MB; or RMB 1,980 for 100MB. Internet can also be paid in monthly installments, but prices will be a bit higher (e.g. RMB 140 instead of RMB 123 per month for 4MB). Pay online or upfront at any branch of China Unicom.
However, not all residential compounds are compatible with every provider; for example, China Unicom coverage does not extend to some hutong communities. Before signing any contracts, make an appointment for an in-home inspection to make sure your compound supports the Internet package you are interested in. Do not bother forking out money for the fastest packages; unless you install fiber optic cables, you will be lucky to reach speeds of 20MB/s in Beijing. However, their efforts to improve the internet has been mentioned by sites like usave.co.uk, China has been notoriously internet deprived and it is a breathe of fresh air to see this starting to change.

Online Payments
The simplest way to pay for utilities is online. Both WeChat and Alipay have English interfaces and allow users to top up their water, gas, electricity, and mobile phones. The first step is to open a domestic bank account (see p46 for more info) and enable online banking in person.
To pay electricity, link your utilities account to the payment platform, then specify the amount of money you want to recharge. To complete the transaction, enter your six-digit Alipay or WeChat Wallet payment PIN.
For water or gas, input the invoice number (nine digits for water and 10-11 digits for gas) into the relevant field in Alipay or WeChat Wallet. The system will automatically pull up your account balance, then you can pay as normal.

Internet 宽带
There are three state-owned network providers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. China Mobile is considered to have better coverage nationwide, while China Unicom has the most comprehensive Internet and mobile data packages. China Telecom is less popular with users largely because fewer unlocked iPhone models are compatible with its 4G LTE network. See the Resources box for more on network compatibility.
China Unicom has several high-speed Internet packages: Internet only, Internet plus landline, and Internet plus 4G. For reference, urban residents can expect to pay RMB 1,480 per year for 4MB/20MB speeds; RMB 1,780 for 50MB; or RMB 1,980 for 100MB. Internet can also be paid in monthly installments, but prices will be a bit higher (e.g. RMB 140 instead of RMB 123 per month for 4MB). Pay online or upfront at any branch of China Unicom.
However, not all residential compounds are compatible with every provider; for example, China Unicom coverage does not extend to some hutong communities. Before signing any contracts, make an appointment for an in-home inspection to make sure your compound supports the Internet package you are interested in. Do not bother forking out money for the fastest packages; unless you install fiber optic cables, you will be lucky to reach speeds of 20MB/s in Beijing.

Online Payments
The simplest way to pay for utilities is online. Both WeChat and Alipay have English interfaces and allow users to top up their water, gas, electricity, and mobile phones. The first step is to open a domestic bank account (see p46 for more info) and enable online banking in person.
To pay electricity, link your utilities account to the payment platform, then specify the amount of money you want to recharge. To complete the transaction, enter your six-digit Alipay or WeChat Wallet payment PIN.
For water or gas, input the invoice number (nine digits for water and 10-11 digits for gas) into the relevant field in Alipay or WeChat Wallet. The system will automatically pull up your account balance, then you can pay as normal.

Photo: Karl Baron (Flickr)

This article originally appeared on pages 34 and 35 of the 2016 Home and Relocation Guide. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

Everyone knows about Beijing’s notorious air pollution, but many newcomers forget that clean water is not a given in China.

The tap water in Beijing is not fit for drinking (or cooking, or showering) as China treats water with high amounts of chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, to disinfect the water. Chlorine alone is known to cause cancer, asthma, and skin irritations (allergies), but chloramines is even more difficult to remove, and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is about “about 2,000 and 100,000 times less effective than free chlorine for the inactivation of E. Coli and rotaviruses, respectively”, which may negatively affect those of us with weak stomachs and poor immune systems.

Drinking water solutions

• Boil it! Boiling tap water is a cheap method that removes bacteria but has no effect on neurotoxins, heavy metals, mercury or minerals like calcium.
• Purchase carbon filters, such as those in Brita pitchers.  You can find larger carbon filters for water coolers if the little pitchers are not enough for your family, but remember that while carbon filters can remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorine, taste, and odor, it cannot handle the minerals, salt and dissolved inorganic compounds found in Beijing’s tap water.
• Order water delivered to your door — a popular option as it’s convenient to call up a company to deliver 19l jugs of water while you’re out.  However, there are three points to consider: (1) bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly found in plastic bottles, especially if the jug has been filled for more than a week (which is likely); (2) water jugs usually get placed in a dispenser, which ought to be cleaned/disinfected regularly or there could be bacterial growth; (3) the authenticity of the water delivered, as even bottled water could just be tap water. Brands such as C’estbon have bar codes that supposedly “track” your water, but their reliability is questionable due to their many branch stores. The most reliable water delivery service is Watsons, which has just one warehouse they deliver from and a very user-friendly English website to order from.
• Purchase bottled water in 4-5L bottles. Not the most eco-friendly option, but if you stick to the well-known brands such as Watsons, Nestle, and Ganten, at least you won’t worry about the quality of the water.
• Install counter-top or under-counter water filtration (for an individual faucet), such as the systems from Aquasana or Xiaomi. These are more affordable as filters only need to be changed every six months or so.  The Aquasana table top model has been tested to remove 97 percent of chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, etc. while keeping beneficial minerals.  The Xiaomi model is newer and has four levels of reverse osmosis filtration, filtering 99.9 percent of most pollutants, including antibiotics.
• Install a whole house water filtration system, the most cost-effective way to ensure the safety of your water for not only drinking and cooking, but also brushing your teeth, showering, and laundering purposes.  Whole house water filtration systems can be upgraded to include water softening features, and Aquasana offers free installation and delivery.

Shower Filters 
Many expats complain of skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff as well as chronic skin and hair dryness while living in Beijing. According to Aquasana’s website, showering and bathing in chlorinated tap water even at very low levels can cause damage to skin and hair. Chlorine is known to strip hair and skin of its natural protective oils, resulting in scaly skin, itching, and bacterial imbalances.  In addition, the contaminants in shower water are at least 20 times more concentrated in steam, which can be inhaled in a shower and will even linger as indoor air pollution. To address these health concerns, filters can be directly installed onto shower heads, with or without a wand, which according to Aquasana can remove 97 percent of chlorine while balancing PH levels.

Resources

Aquasana China 美国阿夸莎娜公司
Rm 1271, Jinchao Building, Beijing Bureau of Environmental Protection, 5 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District (400 000 8320, EN: 136 5128 5157, shop@aquasana-china.com) www.aquasana-china.com 朝阳区农展南路5号北京市环境保护局京朝大厦1271

World Health Store 世界健康品店
1) Mon-Fri 10.30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7.30pm. Rm 2152, 1/F, Section A, North Tower, Soho Shangdu, 8 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5900 2209) www.worldhealthstore.com.cn 朝阳区东大桥路8号SOHO尚都北塔A座一层2152; 2) Mon-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10.30am-8.30pm, Sun 10.30am-8pm. Rm 09A, B1/F, Euro Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu, Shunyi District (8046 2524) 顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场地下1层09A

Xiaomi 小米净水器
www.xiaomi-mi.com/mi-water/xiaomi-mi-water-purifier

Watsons Water 屈臣氏蒸馏水
(6330 9966, 2660 6688) www.watsons-water.com

Photo: Mauricio Alves (Flickr)

This article originally appeared on pages 32-33 of the 2016 Home and Relocation Guide. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

As the world celebrates International World Water Week (April 10-16), we can teach our children about saving water through our living environment as an example.  Here, we have gathered statistics and examples from various sources to illustrate that while it’s important to save water regardless of location, it is especially crucial to save water in Beijing, China.

China’s water scarcity
While air pollution is the poison we tend to focus on when discussing China’s rapid industrialization, water pollution and scarcity, caused by insufficient resources, is also problematic in the Middle Kingdom.  China’s water scarcity is concentrated in the northern areas (where it rarely rains), and is mainly caused by three factors: original uneven distribution of water resources (lakes and rivers are concentrated in the Southern provinces), rapid economic development (industrialization) and urbanization with a large and ever growing population, and poor water resource management.  Even the United Nations has recognized China as one of the 13 developing nations grappling with severe water scarcity, with over 400 Chinese cities short of water.  The worst of all cities is, of course, Beijing.

Beijing’s water shortage
Beijing is now one of the most water-scarce cities in the world.  Its water shortage has existed ever since rainwater began to fall in the 1950s, with its average annual precipitation at only 578mm, compared to New York’s 1,090mm.  As residents, we know that it hardly rains from September to April as Beijing has suffered droughts every year for the last decade.  The Yongding River, which was previously used for drinking water, has long been abandoned due to pollution.
Historically, Beijing took its water from mountain springs north and west of the city through canals, allowing the capital to thrive since the Yuan dynasty despite being located far from a major river.  However, natural springs in the surrounding areas have long dried up as a result of deforestation.

The South-North-water diversion project, a 500-billion-yuan project that was recently completed in 2015, brings water from the Yangtze River (south) to Henan, Hebei, Beijing, and Tianjin. The Yangtze River provides Beijing with about 2 million cubic meters of water per day, of which seventy-six percent is supplied to residents in the downtown, Daxing, and Mentougou districts.

Yet, Beijing still suffers from a water shortage as its 21 million residents annually consume about 3.6 billion cubic meters of water.  The remaining gap of about 30% is still being filled with the exploitation of ground water, which is known to clog pipes and shower heads due to its high magnesium and calcium counts.  Since the gap is being filled with awful ground water that we need to filter before we can use, we should use our water supply sparingly.

Five Simple Ways to Teach Kids to Save Water:

1. Do not play with the toilet flush—flush only when necessary!
2. Turn off the faucet when soaping, brushing teeth, or cleaning.
3. Close the faucet tightly!
4. Take quick showers; no playing!
5. If you prefer a bath, fill the tub 1/3 full (max. 1/2 full).

For more ideas, visit more resources.

Sources: PWC, Shanghai Daily, China Daily, Baidu, Wikipedia, China Water Risk,

Photo: Pixabay, Infograms

When I moved to Beijing from Canada, I fancied myself an environmentalist. I’d been the head of the Environmental committee at both my high schools. I had been an activist outside of school as well and regularly attended rallies, wrote letters and campaigned for a cleaner Earth with my music. I particularly championed the water cause and wrote a song about it in 2004 called H20. So you can imagine how humbling it was when some simple water saving techniques were taught to me as a matter of course by my Chinese (then) boyfriend’s mother. The fact that I had never thought of them before was, well, embarrassing.

In the West, we are taught to put a brick in the back tank of our toilets to save water when flushing. That’s about it. It’s potable water we flush with, unless we have been smart enough to build a grey water system. But, since I hadn’t yet reached that level of domestic sophistication, the best I could do back home was to save the bath water from disappearing down the drain. Once a week, I’d use it to mop the floors.

But in our old-style apartment here in Beijing, the sink didn’t have its pipes covered in a decorative ceramic covering down to the floor (or a cabinet) like most sinks do back home. The sink’s drain funnels to an open spout that splashes the waste water down into a squared-in tiled drain area. Placing a simple bucket in this area with a scoop means that these precious drops of water aren’t lost forever. Every time you use the toilet, just scoop from the collected sink water directly into the toilet bowl and your human waste is naturally flushed down.

In addition to this trick, we have begun to catch the laundry water as well. Since Monday is laundry day, every Monday night the two bins in the laundry/bathroom downstairs are full to the brim with laundry water. We use it to mop the floors as well as to flush the toilets.When I use my "soap nuts," I also use it to water the plants.

As the volume in the buckets decreases over the next few days, all of the water from washing vegetables is added to keep it replenished.

We have two bathrooms in our apartment, so the second one uses the waste water from showers and baths, primarily. I have learned to keep an eye on which set of buckets is full before choosing which bathroom I’ll use!

In 2011, inspired by China’s water saving techniques, I wrote another song about water called "Wash Water" based specifically on the domestic saving of it—less so the political overview like the song mentioned above. That song can be found here. (Chinese version can be found here!)

Ultimately, there’s no perfect way to be an environmentalist, but my (now) in-laws have taught me that it’s the the daily personal efforts that make a real difference.

Try it!

Photos by: Ember Swift & Guo Jian

It is finally a cool(ish) summer day. The sky is clear and beautiful and you are wondering how to best spend the day outdoors in your hood with your little ones. I have put together a simple itinerary, often repeated by many of Sanlitun’s moms. It will make the day, fun, memorable, and super summery.

Take a stroll around Sanlitun North; pass by all the big brand names and people watch. You might find some legendary cars parked in front of 3.3 (a bright yellow Ferrari) your kids will love it. Free car show! Keep your eye out for the people selling giant inflated balloons and splurge. Let your kids take some time picking out Hello Kitty, Superman, or a heart-shaped balloon. Stop by the DVD shop in the alley and stock up for the gloomy days you find yourself stuck indoors.

You’ve worked up an appetite and now its time to cross Sanlitun bar street and sit in the garden of Bocata, one of Sanlitun’s best kept secrets. It has European flair set in a gorgeous garden. Plus we haven’t seen the prices go up there in years and it has a relatively healthy menu. The spinach and bacon salad is to die for, long full paninis, juices, shakes, and olives are among my favorites . Try to get some friends to meet you there. Lunch is always better with friends.

Next, head back into Sanlitun and play in the fountains. Don’t be shy or scared of a little dirty water, all moms have been there. Just let the kids run around and get messy. It will be one of the highlights of their summer. See two of Beijing’s cutest kids Axl and Madeline Mollan, (twins age 4 and a half) demonstrating how it’s done.

 Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Photo: Theresa Pauline