The first phase of the Eastern Route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project will commence ice water transfer in the years 2025 to 2026.

Reporters learned from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Group Co., Ltd. in China that the first phase of the Eastern Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project will begin ice period water transfer on the 21st of 2025 until 2026, with an expected completion in February 2026. The relevant person in charge of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Group stated that during the ice period water transfer, the East Route Limited Company of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Group in China will closely monitor the temperature trends along the route and cold wave warnings with relevant transportation management units. They will strengthen the monitoring and consultation of temperature, water temperature, and ice conditions in key project canal sections, scientifically optimize project operation scheduling, precisely control channel water level and flow rate, and strive to maximize the benefits of water diversion while ensuring the safety of project operation. They will strictly implement daily inspections and duty systems, pre-set measures for risks such as gate freezing, pollution barrier blockages, ice jams, and ice dam, promptly discover and handle ice-related risks to ensure absolute safety of water transfer during the ice period.