2007 witnessed 8.13% more water sources meeting national standards for tap water in Guangzhou compared with 2006, said General Engineer Yang Liu at a press conference hosted by the Guangzhou Municipality Bureau of Environmental Protection. Relevant data also showed that 333 days in 2007 boasted good air quality and the average concentration of SO₂ and NO₂ had decreased for the third consecutive year.

Yang Liu said that Guangzhou Municipal Government would promote coordination with the upstream regions along the Xijiang River and speed up the project of supplying Guangzhou with water from the Xijiang River which would be scheduled for completion by 2010. He believed that the project would surely take less time than the previous project that transferred water from the Dongjiang River to Hong Kong.

Yang also said that as requested by the Municipal Government and the Municipal Party Committee, such press conferences would be held regularly so that citizens could learn about the latest information regarding Guangzhou's environmental protection.

Finally, he pointed out that despite the achievements in environmental protection concerning air and water quality as well as the acoustic environment, problems like dust-haze and acid rain remained serious. In addition, not all water sources in western Guangzhou have met national standards.

Experts explained that the whole Pearl River Delta was confronted with environmental problems and joint efforts were needed in order to solve those problems. Yang said that Guangzhou should do well in environmental protection and meanwhile, work in coordination with the neighboring cities.

(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)

Source : english.gz.gov.cn