The directly-drinkable water project connecting Wan Lu Lake to the big cities in Pearl River Delta is to be initiated this year and completed in 2009, as released at a press conference for Investing Environment Promotion (Guangzhou) in Heyuan city, Guangdong Province.

This huge project will offer quality fresh water directly drinkable to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou, even Hong Kong and Macao upon accomplishment.

Wan Lu Lake retains water as much as 13,900 billion cubic metres that is officially regarded as National Class 1. The lake is certificated as "China's Reservoir of High Quality Drinkable Water" by the National Food Industry Association.

The budget for the pipeline connection from Heyuan to Guangzhou will be 7 billion yuan (US$1 billion).

Monthly water charge less than 50 yuan

In 1999, every ton of water from Wan Lu Lake was estimated to be charged to end users for 50 yuan, said Chen Jianhua, secretary of Huyuan Municipal Party Committee.

For a family of 3 to 5 members, 25 to 47 yuan for directly drinkable water is more than enough.

But the price has to be confirmed after research and hearing, Chen remarked, the total project investment is set to be 47 billion yuan (US$6.63 billion).

Time to supply directly-drinkable water in Pearl River Delta

The water shortage due to poor water quality is becoming more and more serious in the Pearl River Delta. It is the mature time now to launch directly-drinkable water supply in this south China area.

400 to 600 million cubic metres water will be supplied from the Wan Lu Lake in one year, with little environmental pollution.

Editor: Yan