BEIJING — Beijing conserved 120 million cubic meters of water in 2014 as the city used multiple ways to fight water scarcity, the Ministry of Water Resources said.

The figure compared to 113 million cubic meters of water saved in 2012, said the ministry, without mentioning the figure for 2013.

Water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP growth fell 4 percent last year, it said.

Beijing has controlled underground water more strictly, and made rainfall collection and water reclamation more effectively. As it cracked down on private well-digging and improved agricultural water-saving, the city used 1.96 billion cubic meters of underground water last year, 48 million cubic meters less than that in 2013.

With the goal of transforming Beijing into a “sponge city,” the city has invested more in projects collecting rainfall. Last year, 110 million cubic meters of rain was collected.

Beijing also put 860 million cubic meters of reclaimed water to reuse thanks to better sewage treatment.