"By the end of 2020, we are going to reach the goal of basically
providing safe drinking water for all rural people," said Zhai
Haohui, vice minister of water resources.
Officials said on Sunday that they are planning to launch a
long-term project to deal with the lack of clean water, which is
damaging the quality of life and threatening the health of millions
in rural areas.
Zhai said that by 2010, the number of residents without access
to clean drinking water should be reduced by one-third.
The 2020 deadline for clean water for all is part of the
government's Millennium Goals declared to the United Nations. More
than 300 million rural residents throughout the country still lack
clean drinking water.
"In some areas, many farmers have to go several kilometers to
fetch drinking water, while some have to drink water with high
fluorine or arsenic content or saltwater that endangers their
health," said Zhai.
Unsafe drinking water is connected to 80 percent of all diseases
and deaths in developing countries, ministry experts said. In
China, more than 50 diseases are the direct result of unclean
drinking water.
The government is still trying to work out the details of the
plan but Zhai was confident that after a careful study of local
water and environmental conditions, authorities will be able to
draw up a blueprint to meet the target.
He urged local water agencies to determine local needs, protect
existing water sources and be alert to water pollution.
China's rural drinking water supply project, completed during
the 10th Five-Year Plan (2000–04), relieved water shortages for
more than 57 million rural residents, according to the
ministry.
Over the past five years, more than 14 million rural families in
27 provinces have gained access to drinking water. More than
800,000 new water-processing facilities have gone into
operation.
Pollution of China's major rivers and their tributaries, as well
as of aquifers that serve as well-water sources, is a serious and
worsening problem for much of the nation despite central government
efforts to control it.
(
China Daily November 29, 2004)