NW China getting better drinking water from its reservoir soon

Liujiaxia Reservoir, upstream on the Yellow River, is important for flood control, irrigation, and tourism. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

The city of Lanzhou, Gansu province began construction work on a water diversion project on the Liujiaxia Reservoir which is about 40 kilometers from the city and will be the city's major water source, on Aug 20.

Work beginning in Yongjing county, near Lanzhou on water diversion tunnels, on Aug 20. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

The project is scheduled for late 2016 completion and is expected to cost around 5.69-billion yuan ($900 million), with the water diversion playing an important role in improving water quality, said Liu Jingdong, member of the municipal Party standing committee, who addressed the opening ceremony for the construction work.

Liujiaxia Reservoir was completed in 1974 as a hydro-power project with a Chinese design. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

The water for the reservoir is considered to be cleaner than that of the nearby Yellow River where the people of Lanzhou now get their drinking water. The reservoir, in Yongjing county, is a valuable water resource with beautiful scenery.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw