The access to safe drinking water has become a problem for as many as 242 million rural residents in China, Xinhua reported. Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said on Wednesday that problems in ensuring rural access to safe drinking water, are expected to be solved by 2015, as a result of government-led efforts. According to a November 2010 survey, 674 million people live in China's rural areas.
A related government report said the country will extend its urban water supply networks to the rural areas, as well as support the development of centralized water supply systems in the countryside. The report also said the government has vowed to by 2020, expand its coverage of centralized water supply services up to 85 percent of the rural population.
