Shanghai city is drawing up a blueprint to shape its overall water landscape so as to enhance its international attraction and make the local environment more beautiful, according to the water authority.

It is guided by the principle that water represents a key resource that boosts the economy, culture and the image of Shanghai. For the first time, Shanghai spotlights water scenery and lists it high on the government's schedule by 2005.

"The city will take its entire water system into consideration and work out a sustainable water landscaping plan," said Zhang Jiayi, general director of the Shanghai Municipal Water Resources Bureau.

The move is geared to boost the city's entertainment activities, the yachting industry and to promote water tours, Zhang said.

The newly launched waterfront development of the Huangpu River are also part of the blueprint for water landscape development

The city is concerned that the scenery construction plans do not detract from the importance attached to three other city problems: water safety, water resources and water environment.

The city will complete construction of the dam between the sea and the river to protect Shanghai from floods.

On the basis of the enhancement of the city's anti-flooding capacity and to guarantee public safety, the water quality improvement will be continued, as the city is reducing sources of pollution and setting up more sewage treatment plants.

The city is also introducing more water from the Yangtze River, whose quality is better than that of the Huangpu River, which has so far been the main water source for the city. In addition, three major tap-water factories will be renovated and small factories in the suburbs will be merged.

By 2005, about 1,000 kilometres of underground water pipes will have been renewed to prevent the water becoming polluted during distribution.

Such projects are estimated to cost 36 billion yuan (US$4.36 billion) -- 7.9 billion yuan (US$951 million) on safety, 11.9 billion yuan (US$1.43 billion) on resources and 14 billion yuan (US$1.69 billion) on waste treatment.

Zhang said the government will be responsible for one-third of the investment and the rest will be gathered through other channels, including foreign investment. Foreign investors have shown interest in sewage treatment and tap-water production, he said.

(China Daily April 1, 2002)