Beijing will limit its annual underground water extraction to 1.4 billion cubic meters by 2025, under a draft plan released recently.

The plan, which provides comprehensive controls to prevent over-exploitation of Beijing's underground water, was released on the Beijing Water Authority's website. Comments may be made until May 6.

The city has been faced with water shortages and excessive extraction for years. Comparing with levels in 1980, there is a huge gap in underground water reserves, the water authority said.

Since 2019, Beijing has cracked down on water extraction activities and has basically reached its target. The draft plan is intended to lock in those gains.

Beijing plans to increase water supplies from the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Yellow River in the future. Water transferred to Beijing from the project will be maintained at above 1 billion cubic meters annually, the draft said.

Wang Songsong contributed to this story.