Jan.30,2019-- China will comprehensively address the problem of drinking water safety in poverty-stricken areas by 2020, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. 

 

During the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), over 300 million people living in rural areas gained access to safe drinking water. Since the start of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), China has been increasing investment to further enhance drinking water safety in rural areas. 

 

In 2018, over 78 million farmers had access to clean running water and the coverage of running water in rural areas reached 81 percent.

 

So far, the central and local governments have invested a total of 134.2 billion yuan in drinking water projects, benefiting 164 million rural people.

 

In 2019, China will continue to invest big to improve rural drinking water safety, with the goal of the centralized water supply rate reaching 86 percent and the coverage of running water reaching 82 percent in rural areas.