Hefty investment and the latest equipment and technologies will be used to improve the quality of potable water in south China's Guangdong Province, officials and experts said Wednesday.

The province will implement 120 projects for water supply and treatment; prevention of pollution; treatment of solid wastes; and protection of the rural environment.

Wang Zikui, deputy director-general of the Guangdong Provincial Environment Protection Administration, outlined the province's measures to improve water supply at a seminar in Guangzhou yesterday. Three other events, Water, Wastewater and Water Treatment China 2004; Pump, Valve & Pipe China 2004; and Air & Waste Treatment China 2004, were held concurrently with the seminar.

Sponsored by the China Foreign Trade Center Group and managed by China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition Corp, the exhibitions will last till Saturday.

Total investment will reach 35.5 billion yuan (US$4.28 billion), the official said, to dispose of 55 per cent of the province's life sewage and at least 60 per cent of the life waste by 2007.

Wang, also president of Guangdong Environment Protection Industry Association, said the province will beef up efforts to improve the water quality and the environment of the Pearl River; and the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhaoqing and Yunfu have been called upon to join forces.

The province will rely heavily on the latest technologies and equipment for water projects such as the ultra filter system, membrane technology, bio-technology, seawater desalination and reverse osmosis.

(China Daily March 11, 2004)