(BEIJING, October 25) -- Water is a precious resource in Beijing, and the residents of this city have made the practice of conserving water a regular habit.

Water conversation is also prevalent at the Olympic venues, which make use of one or a combination of reclaimed water, recycled rainwater, and sewage treatment stations.

If it rains during a competition at the National Stadium ("Bird's Nest"), a drain and hidden steel gutters at the top of the structure will create a siphoning system to completely remove the rainwater. In addition, the gutters can be heated to melt snow that collects in the drains in the winter and effectively remove the liquid from the snow.

Rainwater collected at the Bird's Nest will be treated and combined with the city's reclaimed water supply for irrigation and other purposes.

At the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube), an estimated 10,500 cu m of water will be collected and treated for reuse.

And the ground material at the National Indoor Stadium will facilitate the absorption of rainwater into the ground. In addition, rainwater collected on the rooftop will be treated and used for irrigation and flushing.