The reporter learned from the Ministry of Water Resources that by the end of 2025, the penetration rate of tap water in rural areas across the country will reach 96%, the proportion of large-scale water supply projects covering the rural population will reach 71%, and the proportion of county unified management will reach 72%. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the level of rural water supply security has been significantly improved, and the "14th Five-Year Plan" goals have been achieved two years ahead of schedule.

The rural water supply engineering system is constantly improving. By the end of 2025, there are 3.816 million rural water supply projects across the country, forming a water supply guarantee network covering 850 million rural people. Remote mountainous areas and areas with water difficulties are gradually using tap water. Among them, 438,000 rural centralized water supply projects serve a population of 830 million people. The number of people who mainly rely on water cellars and water tanks for water supply has decreased by 79% compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan. The rural water supply project pattern based on large-scale water supply has accelerated.

County unified management of rural water supply is accelerated. Based on the integration of resources in the county, we will explore the formation of unified management models such as integrated urban and rural management, unified management of professional institutions, and entrusted third-party management. Through franchising, authorized operation, purchase of social services, etc., the main body of unified management has been clarified to ensure full coverage of services, and the level of professionalism and standardization of rural water supply management and maintenance has been significantly improved.

The foundation for water quality protection continues to be strengthened. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention jointly launched an in-depth special campaign to improve the quality of rural water supply, and pushed all localities to basically complete the demarcation of drinking water source protection zones and the establishment of signboards at the township level. Together with the Ministry of Finance, they arranged 2.2 billion yuan in central water conservancy development funds to comprehensively strengthen the equipment and equipment of purification and disinfection facilities, water quality monitoring and sanitation supervision, and accelerate the improvement of the water quality assurance system from water sources to faucets.

Emergency support capabilities have been comprehensively improved. Build a rural water supply emergency support system that can be used both for casual and emergency purposes, and by scientifically arranging emergency water points, promoting the integration of county water supply pipe networks and regional networking, and improving the project's disaster resilience. Guide various localities to improve rural water supply emergency plans, improve working mechanisms, and effectively respond to various natural disasters and emergencies such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes.

In the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will comprehensively implement the "3+1" standardized construction and management and maintenance model of rural water supply, and accelerate the transformation of rural water supply from "water to drink" to "drinking good water". (Reporter Li Xiaoqing)