Subanchor: Is drinking water really safer now

By Saimah Hanif

Correspondent, SAM Daily Times

China’s new drinking water quality standards are expected to provide better quality tap water nationwide for people in both urban and rural areas. Following is the interview of a Chinese journalist with his colleague Lv Yao.

Q1. We know the new standards are supposed to take effect on Sunday, but can you tell us more about the current situation in practice?

A1. Well, the real picture now is not as good as we might expect. While the number of water quality indicators has increased from 35 to 106, with a big emphasis on controlling heavy metal and organic compounds, the reality is that the vast majority of public water facilities weren’t designed with these standards in mind. It looks like it’s going to be tough to make such a dramatic change during such a short period of time. However, the central government says they are going to be making a big push to meet the standards in the years ahead. They are planning to bring all provincial capitals and municipalities in line with all 106 quality indicators by 2015.

Q2. Could rural areas be facing more challenges ahead?

A1. Absolutely. China is a very diverse country. Although the number of rural residents lacking access to safe drinking water dropped by 221 million from 2004 to 2010, more than 200 million still don’t have safe water to drink when measured against the new standards. What’s more, while the emphasis right now is on improving standards nationwide, different regions also have different challenges to deal with. But the good news is that China intends to invest 175 billion yuan over the next three years to ensure safe drinking water in rural areas. 68 percent of the costs will be borne by government subsidies, with local government taking up another 22 percent, and the final 10 percent will be assumed by the rural residents themselves.