The municipal Water Supply Department launched 10 projects to deal with water pollution on March 23. A department official said that one of the projects aimed to investigate water safety. Before supplied to households, the water from the Yangtze River will be mixed with food additives and the water currently available in Beijing to prevent pollution of the city's water.

Given the multiple sources of water, the study of the technology involved in drinking water safety in the South-to-North Water Diversion Project focused on the variation and regulation of the water during the long-distance transfer and storage.

Water sample experimented with laboratory rats

During the Olympics, water from Hebei Province was stained by rust. To prevent it from happening again, an official from the municipal Water Supply Department said they were considering adding food additives into the water imported into Beijing and mixing it with local water to meet residents' taste buds.

He also said water safety is guaranteed because the additives are safe substances and used internationally. Moreover, they will study the processed water sample with laboratory rats. No water will be let into the tap-water pipes in Beijing until they decide it is clean and safe after observation and experiments to make sure the water is still drinkable after long-distance transportation.

Other measures to cope with water pollution

1. Cameras set in Miyun Reservoir.

The projects also are responsible for monitoring facilities and operating warning systems. Now the Miyun Reservoir and the aqueduct between Beijing and Miyun are monitored with a biological method—fish raised in the water will give warnings timely once the water is polluted.

Next, cameras will be installed in important areas like Guanting Reservoir and Miyun Reservoir to reinforce the monitoring and warning system.

2. Freshwater mussels used to improve the condition of Wenyu River

The restoration of the ecosystem in the mid-North Canal will be initiated this year. According to Sun Fenghua, an official from the municipal Water Office, the technicians have made clear about the condition in Wenyu River by water quality monitoring and investigation. This year, freshwater mussels and other species will be introduced. Sun explained that Beijing had attached great importance to the utilization of the aquatic in water pollution treatment. Mussels can be used to control pollutants to keep the water clean.

3. Reeds to absorb heavy metals

Sun Fenghua added that aquatic plants such as waterweeds, reeds and water hyacinth will be cultivated as part of the construction of Yongding River Wetland to absorb heavy metals.