Xifeng focuses on drinking water safety in rural areas

Southwest China's Xifeng county recently rolled out a series of measures, designed to ensure the safety of its drinking water in rural areas, according to local officials.

They said the county had put together a plan to tackle rural drinking water safety problems and promote poverty alleviation there as well.

Xifeng officials inspected and verified the drinking water safety of 2,635 poor households and completed random telephone investigations of the water safety in all poor households in early March.

Meanwhile, Xifeng county held three special meetings on rural drinking water safety and found 356 problems, grouped into three main categories: no disinfection facilities installed, no charges and pricing being levied and no water source protection signs.

Officials said that to date, 241 problems had been resolved. These comprised 66 rectifications of absent disinfection facilities in rural drinking water safety projects, 173 rectifications on charges and pricing and two rectifications concerning water source protection signs.

Meanwhile, the county promised to resolve the remaining 115 existing problems by April 30.

Additionally, Xifeng started construction of 29 rural consolidation and upgrading projects for its  water supply, of which seven projects have been completed.