Qingdao government recently approved a comprehensive treatment program for 14 major rivers within the city between 2017 and 2020, Qingdao Daily reported on Dec. 20.

The details of the program were compiled based on the results of a thorough trouble shooting procedure which covered the problems existing in water resource protection, coastline management, pollution treatment, ecological restoration and law enforcement and supervision along various rivers.

The local government aims to offer a guidance for decision-making in waterway management with the compilation of the program plan, which specifies periodic goals, measures and safeguards for the plan to be carried out.

The 14 rivers covered in the plan are designated as part of the city’s river chief initiative, which pursues effective water resource protection, shoreline management and ecological restoration by clarifying accountabilities.