Continuous rainfall boosts the Baotu Spring in Jinan, bringing the underground water level of the spring to 28.63 meters on Sunday. Photos by Zhao Ruixue / China Daily

Last week's continuous rainfall in Shandong gave a boost to Baotu Spring, the most famous sping in the provincial capital of Jinan, bringing the spring's underground water level to 28.63 meters.

Baotu Spring has been on the verge of not being able to spout since April with its underground water level hitting 28.13 meters, two centimeters lower than the alarming drought line.

Jinan, a city renowned as the City of Spring, launched a water conservation campaign as Baotu Spring came dangerously close to drying up in April.

The city government has urged hotels and restaurants to control the use of spring water and findings of excessive use will be fined, said officials from the municipal water conservation office.

The spring had begun to experience seasonal hiccups since the early 1970s. The problem was addressed in 2003 when the government adopted a series of measures to protect the many springs in the city.

Continuous rainfall boosts the Baotu Spring in Jinan, bringing the underground water level of the spring to 28.63 meters on Sunday. Photos by Zhao Ruixue / China Daily

By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Emily Cheng