Property buyers attracted by real estate promotional slogans of "hot springs" should be cautious after the government effectively killed such projects Tuesday.

Chen Jianping, section chief of the terrestrial heat management department at the Beijing municipal bureau of land and resources, told METRO on Wednesday that

new applications for hot springs programs were being "totally refused" by the bureau.

"Taking a hot spring bath or shower is a huge waste of limited natural heating resources," he said.

"Most properties with hot springs promotions offer showers, which do not make use of its medicinal properties," he said.

"In order to benefit the body, a person needs to soak in a bathtub of spring water for a lengthy period," he said.

Chen revealed there are currently around 30 properties permitted to use hot springs systems in nine rural areas with natural underground heating, such as Yanqing, Shahe, Xiaotaoshan, Liangxiang, Tianzhu, Houshayu, Lisui, Shuangqiao, Fengheying.

The tenth area is the capital's urban districts.

"Some residents living in the southern part of the city complained to us about the waste of spring water in their communities. It's time to stop this," he said.

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However, some experts claim that hot springs are not only a waste of resources, but also a commercial trick with possible scams.

Shi Xiaolin, assistant chief engineer with Beijing municipal bureau of exploration and development of geology and mineral resources, told METRO many developers "cheat residents".

"Some of this so-called 'hot spring water' is actually tap water heated up by boilers," he said.

Ding Dezhi, secretary general of the terrestrial heat committee of China Consumers' Association, revealed more.

He said residential buildings were banned from using hot springs for tap water and showers in the early 90s.