Hechi invests 1.4b in water conservation in 2017

Officials help renovate canals in Muyou village in order to boost walnut production on Jan 4, 2017. [Photo/hcwang.cn]

Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has invested more than 1.4 billion yuan ($220.9 million) in water conservation in 2017, Hechi Daily reported on Jan 22.

The city invested 290 million yuan in providing safe drinking water to 315,000 residents in surrounding rural areas. As many as 79.5 percent of rural residents in Hechi now have running water.

Reporters learn about the achievements made by the rural drinking water safety projects in Donglan county on Feb 20. [Photo by Yang Feng/ hcwang.cn]

Funds were spread across 28 different projects relating to the construction of new water-conservative irrigation facilities designed to bring about high-efficiency high-yield agriculture.

Safety precautions have been taken to guard against water-related disasters. These include the reinforcement of an existing local reservoir, several draught safeguards, and the construction of 56 kilometers worth of river banks and revetments.

Through the cumulative effects of seven water and soil conservation projects, the city has managed to bring 52 square kilometers worth of soil erosion under control.