(BEIJING, Aug. 24) -- By the end of 2006, Beijing will build another 131 projects for the purpose of rainwater use, of which 55 will be located in the urban area, according to the city's water authority.

The city has already built 169 such projects this year with a water storage capacity of 1340,000 cubic meters. Counting the 55 built in 2005, the rainwater collecting systems amount to 355.

To date, there are 45 existing projects in the urban area with a storage capacity of 690,000 cubic meters and 124 in the rural area with an equivalent capacity.

The collected rainwater, along with recycled water, is used for street cleaning and toilet flushing. Water collected in the urban area also serves as a source of water supply for lakes and urban greening.