Residents of Tianjin, a water-deficient city in north China, began to drink clean water diverted from the Yellow River, when Mayor Li Shenglin flicked the switch to start the Xicaiyuan pumping station Wednesday morning.
This was the sixth time that China has rerouted water from the Yellow River into Tianjin, an important economic center in north China.
The water was diverted at Weishan Gate in Dong'e County, east China's Shandong Province, and flowed into Tianjin from a distance of 580 kilometers. With combined efforts of Shandong and Hebei provinces, the Yellow River water arrived at Tianjin on October 21.
Then, the water underwent thorough deposition, filtration and was disinfected before it flowed into each household. The water quality is up to the state standard, according to experts.
Li called on all the citizens in Tianjin to economize every drop of the hard-earned water.
(Xinhua 11/2/2000)
