In order to adress the global water resources pressure and to better promote water saving construction, this paper reviewed and summarized the key measures and their effects of water saving in main countries from five aspects including policies and regulations, economy, technology, routine management, and unconventional water utilization. Suggestions for promoting water-saving work in China in the future were put forward, including paying high attention to water-saving work at national strategy level, promoting agricultural water-saving while considering the integrated governance of the ecological environment, continuously strengthening market means such as water pricing (tax) and water use right trading, promoting the utilization of reclaimed water and desalinated water, strengthening the research and promotion of advanced water-saving technologies and equipment, and promoting international exchange and cooperation.