Various measures were introduced by Kunming government departments to fight against the once-in-a century drought and protect environment.

Water-saving Office: Rushing to restore on receiving water leak report within 1 hour

A new regulation has been issued by Kunming Municipal Water-saving Office. According to the new rules, maintenance staff are required to arrive at the scene where the water leakage has been reported within 1 hour and restore pipes within 24 hours, and restoring work shall be carried out continuously until completion in case of big problems.

The new regulation has also reduced the daily water volume for each person by 20%. Any household that consumes more water than 10 tons monthly during the period from April 1 to May 31 will be charged at 150% prices.

Bureau of Parks and Gardens: Suspending planting trees before rainy season

Trees had been planted in Kunming from January every year and according to the original plan, 800 thousand trees will be planted this year. But all of them have been kept in tree nursery and no one will be planted until the rainy season.

Environmental Protection Bureau: Enterprises will get permanent shutdown for illegal sewage discharge

Kunming Municipal Government will focus on the following 4 rivers to control water pollution from April 1 to June 30: Niulan River, Panlong River, Baoxiang River and Tanglangchuan River.

Polluting enterprises along the 4 rivers and their tributaries will get comprehensive Investigation. Ones cause pollution or other environmental risks will be given a deadline for correction, even closed down. Any company that is found to be involved with the following illegal sewage discharges will get permanent shutdown in Kunming: deliberately neglecting conventional pollution control facilities, excessive or secret discharge of waste, as well as using private underground piping system. [More]

Dianchi Administration Bureau: Monitoring algae growth every three days

The once-in-a century drought has caused the water level of Dianchi Lake to drop about 80cm, worsened by the increased water temperature, quick growth and reproduction of algae may be brought about. To avoid such situation, workers of Kunming Dianchi Administration Bureau monitor algae growth in the Dianchi Lake every three days. (Editor: Minnie Mao)