BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Beijing residents are being warned to start taking action to save water or face a massive shortage of 1.1 billion cubic meters by 2008.

    The shortage was estimated according to the city's current water consumption and efficiency levels, said Ma Weifang, a researcher with the municipal sustainable development promotion committee.

    The city's annual per capita reserve stands at about 300 cubic meters, while an acute shortage is generally deemed to be 1,000 cubic meters or less.

    But the situation was still retrievable if all conservation measures were implemented and use of recycled water increased, Ma said.

    Last year, the city's water consumption totaled 3.45 billion cubic meters, of which 2.67 billion cubic meters was ground water and 260 million was recycled.

    Only 35 percent of the recycled water was used effectively, which was both worrying and encouraging for further efficiencies, Ma said.

    Beijing, which has promised a "green Olympics", will have installed water-saving devices in all public places at the end of June. Residents are required to put water-saving devices on taps, toilets and showers by the end of this year.

    The city has also raised charges on tap water in a bid to cut consumption and residents are being urged to use recycled water for plants and washing cars.

    Wasting water is now a criminal offense incurring a fine of up to 10,000 yuan (1,400 U.S. dollars).

    Experts also called for better protection of Beijing's suburban Miyun and Guanting reservoirs, which provide a quarter of the city's water.

    Droughts in the past seven consecutive years had reduced the usable water in Guanting to 25 million cubic meters by the end of April, a 91 percent drop from the average recorded figure.

    The authorities are also promoting more efficient irrigation technologies and new species of paddy rice and wheat that can endure drought in the city's rural areas.

    These measures plus normal rainfalls could see a balance between consumption and supply by 2008, Ma said.

    In the event of a drought, Beijing would divert water from Hebei and Shanxi Provinces to ensure the supply, Ma said.

    The central government and Beijing municipal government have earmarked 22 billion yuan (2.9 billion U.S. dollars) for water diversion projects and compensation for areas that supply water tothe capital. Enditem