The Ministry of the Environment released statistics on water use in 2001, Sunday, which showed an annual consumption in cities of 374 liters per person, down 1.6 percent from 380 liters in 2000. Compared to the 408 liters per person in 1994, the water use per capita has been reduced by 8.3 percent.

According to the statistics, potable water production in 2001 was 5.791 billion tons, down 21 million tons from the previous year. This is the first time since 1994 that production has been reduced. The drop in use was reportedly due to water conservation movement and the replacement of old water pipes.

The total lost through leaks in 2001 was 804 million tons, 13.9 percent of the total potable water produced, also down from the 14.8 percent in 2000. Some 98.4 percent of households in metropolitan areas were supplied with potable water compared to 77.4 percent towns and 29 percent in rural areas.

According to the statistics, the nationwide water price per ton was calculated as W489.1.

(Koo Sung-ja, sjkoo@chosun.com )