China's water diversion benefits 53 m residents

BEIJING -- China's south-to-north water diversion project has benefited more than 53 million people in the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei and Henan provinces, authorities said Friday.

Since the project's middle route came into operation in late 2014, nearly 7.8 billion cubic meters of water has been pumped through canals and pipes from Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China's Hubei Province, according to the construction authority.

The quality of the diverted water has met targeted standards and remained stable, according to the authority.

The water feeds over 11 million Beijing residents, or about half the city's population, accounting for more than 70 percent of Beijing's daily water supply. It also supplies Tianjin's city proper.

In addition, residents of seven cities in Hebei, as well as 11 cities and 37 counties in Henan, have access to the diverted water.

The project has helped rein in excessive use of groundwater and improved ecosystems of lakes and rivers in the four regions.