Demonstration of Rural Water Supply Safety Technology in Lancang-Mekong Countries—China Practice Experience Sharing

Objectives:
To provide solutions for solving water quantity and quality problems of Lancang-Mekong countries, and to establish appropriate technical systems for rural drinking water safety in order to improve safe drinking water access for people in Lancang-Mekong countries and to share drinking water safety practices and experiences.
Problems:
Everyone has the human right to safe drinking water. However, the level of drinking water safety for residents of Lancang-Mekong countries, especially in rural areas, is low. Local governments there have limited financial resources and need support from the international communities. There are 3 major problems on drinking water safety: (1) Uneven spatial and temporal distribution of water resources, lack of water supply facilities, insufficient water quantity and ease of access to water, and prominent problems on engineering water shortage; (2) Deterioration of water quality, lack of water treatment facilities, and prominent problems on water quality assurance; (3) Weak operation and management of water supply projects, making projects difficult to operate normally.
Implementation Methodology:
China has established close cooperation with the water supply management departments of Lancang-Mekong countries and can share its best practices and experiences with the Lancang Mekong countries. Based on different water source types and water supply methods in Lancang-Mekong countries, carry out cooperation tasks on risk identification and evaluation of rural water supply systems, water source development and utilization, and water quality purification and disinfection technology demonstration. As a result, significantly improve the sustainability and risk management capacity of local water supply systems. Through typical regional technology demonstrations, access to clean drinking water for rural residents in the demonstration areas will be improved, and enable vulnerable communities, women and children to enjoy safe and affordable water. At the same time, radiating the improvement of construction and management of rural water supply projects in other areas of the Mekong countries. Moreover, all key stakeholder groups will be involved in the construction, renovation and management of water supply projects in rural communities.
Mechanism Building:
Under the "Belt and Road" national-level international economic cooperation initiative, the six countries in the Mekong River Basin have jointly created a new sub-regional cooperation mechanism, the "Lancang-Mekong Cooperation" mechanism. Drinking water security is one of the important directions of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism.
Technological measures:
Strengthen scientific and technological innovation, promotion and application, Propose a risk assessment index system for typical rural water supply systems in Lancang-Mekong countries. Propose technical models, devices and programs for rural drinking water safety suitable for Lancang-Mekong countries. Carry out the construction of demonstration projects for water supply technology in rural communities in Lancang-Mekong countries. Propose a catalog of suitable rural water supply technologies and equipment. Write a guide for risk identification and assessment of rural water supply systems in Lancang-Mekong countries and a guide for management. Carry out knowledge sharing, technology exchange and public science education activities on the subject of drinking water safety.