Six departments issued a notice to strengthen the operation and maintenance of rural water supply projects.

Reporters learned from the Ministry of Water Resources on the 24th that the Ministry of Water Resources and five other departments recently jointly issued a "Notice on Further Strengthening the Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supply Projects", focusing on building a comprehensive and standardized system from water source to tap, deploying key tasks for operation and maintenance in the current and future periods, and improving the capability and service level of rural water supply guarantee. The notice clearly requires five key tasks related to strengthening water quantity and quality guarantee, strengthening emergency supply guarantee for projects, steadily promoting rural water supply price reform, accelerating the county-level management of rural water supply, and implementing support policies. Specific requirements include strengthening water resource management and source protection, scientifically layouting emergency standby water sources, pricing non-residential and residential water in rural areas based on different principles, accelerating professional management and maintenance in areas not yet under county-level management, and supporting rural water supply engineering operation and maintenance with financial funds at all levels as required. The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Water Resources stated that in the next step, they will guide relevant departments to ensure the implementation of the notice in various regions, ensuring that projects are managed, funded, and governed by systems, building well, managing well, and benefiting for the long term, enhancing the sense of access, happiness, and security of rural residents in accessing water.