Water price rise in China

China's capital has raised the price of water to help fight a worsening water shortage after nine years of droughts.

Beijing authorities said the water price for residential use will go up 8 per cent, an increase that follows a jump of almost 50 per cent for non-residential use last month.

China is already working on a project to divert billions of tonnes of water from its central, southern and western regions through pipes and canals to Beijing and other northern cities.