The scene of the press conference on the comprehensive treatment of groundwater over-exploitation in Hebei Province. Great Wall Network Jiyun client Yang Lei photo
At the press conference on the comprehensive treatment of groundwater over-exploitation in Hebei Province held by the Information Office of the Hebei Provincial Government on October 26, Zhang Fengquan, director of the Rural Water Conservancy and Hydropower Department of the Hebei Provincial Water Conservancy Department, said that by the end of 2020, Hebei Province has completed an investment of 7.9 billion yuan, through the new expansion of rural surface water plants, laying water transmission and distribution pipe networks and transforming water supply facilities in the village, 13.54 million people in 59 counties (cities, districts) have drunk water from the river. It has basically solved the problem of drinking water insecurity for rural residents, and laid a good foundation for the comprehensive completion of the task of replacing the river water of rural residents in the water-receiving areas of the South-north Water Diversion by the end of 2022.
Rural domestic water replacement project hot melt pipe construction site. Courtesy of Hengshui Municipal Water Conservancy Bureau
The staff of the surface water plant of the Zaoqiang County South-to-North Water Diversion Project view remote data in real time through the water supply information automation management system. Great Wall Network Jiyun client Lu Wanfeng photo
In recent years, the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the Hebei Provincial Government have focused on further improving the level of rural water supply security, advancing simultaneously with the comprehensive treatment of groundwater over-exploitation, orderly carrying out the construction of rural living water source river water replacement projects in the water-receiving areas of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, and switching rural domestic water sources from groundwater to diverting river water through measures such as newly expanding rural surface water plants, laying water transmission and distribution pipe networks, and renovating water supply facilities in villages. In 2021, Hebei Province will invest 14.4 billion yuan in 7 cities and 47 counties, expand 29 new surface water plants, lay 414 kilometers of water diversion pipelines above surface water plants, and 36,000 kilometers of pipe networks below surface water plants, and add 8.18 million new replacement population.
Liu Anmei, a villager in Zhangxiutun Village, Zaoqiang County, said that the wish to drink sweet water has finally come true. Great Wall Network Jiyun client Lu Wanfeng photo