A sloping path, 2,400 square meters long, stretches from northwest to southeast in Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau courtyard.

The slope allows rainwater to be gathered in water drains along the water-storing well. Then it flows in a pipe to be deposited in a collection pond.

There a high voltage water pump stands and automatically sprays the collected water into nearby gardens and greenbelts.

This is a typical example of Beijing's rainwater-collection project that aims to efficiently use abundant rainwater during Beijing's annual flood season.   

Beijing, a city with severe water shortages, has established numerous rainwater-collection projects around town. These collection sites are located in residential areas, office institutions, scientific and technological zones, and schools and parks. With almost 500 new rainwater-collection spots, this extensive project has the capacity to collect up to 40 million cubic meters of rainwater and floodwater, according to the Beijing Water Authority (BWA).

The concept of effectively using rainwater has merged with the city's construction plans. Some businesses have taken advantage of their underground zones and built water storage ponds which collect and process water runoff. The collected water can flush toilets, clean cars, and irrigate greenbelts. Other builders have introduced a water permeable brick for pavement; the brick is works as an effective surface and also can help recycle groundwater.
 
According to the statistics from the BWA, 150 rainwater-collection projects in the city proper have collected more than one million-sq-m of rainwater during the flood season. This amount equals 1.3 percent of the water-using quantity of urban residents.

(China Development Gateway by Sun Wan July 30, 2007)