"The China-aided water supply project not only allows Cañas residents to drink safe water, but also injects new impetus into our economic development." Griselda Lara, mayor of Cañas City, recently told Xinhua News Agency the reporter said.Two years ago, the water supply projects in Cañas and Belvedero, Costa Rica, aided by the Chinese government, were completed and handed over to Costa Rica, completely solving the drinking water problem for the 37,000 local residents.In the 1990s, groundwater in Cañas and nearby areas was found to contain excessive arsenic levels and was unfit for drinking, causing many difficulties for local residents.Juana Garcia, a resident of Cañas, recalled that she used to have to go to other places to collect water every day. “I would go out at 3 or 4 in the morning to bring back the water for the day and store it in bottles and cans at home. . But I only use it when drinking water and cooking. I have to go to the river to bathe and wash clothes."The water supply project aided by the Chinese government to Colombia is the most anticipated livelihood project by the local people among the six projects that Colombia proposed to China in 2015 after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia.After the water supply project started in April 2019, China Railway Fourth Bureau Group Co., Ltd., as the general contractor of the construction, overcame the severe local weather conditions and various difficulties caused by the epidemic, and completed it at the end of 2021, building a complete water supply for the local area. system."The children were so happy the first few days when tap water was first introduced," Garcia said. "With clean water, not only our quality of life has improved, but the surrounding businesses have also developed, and life has become more and more beautiful." convenient."
Lara said that in the past, pollution of drinking water sources not only seriously affected the lives of local residents, but also restricted economic development.Because Colombian law stipulates that without qualified tap water, you cannot obtain a building permit or receive housing subsidies. Many young people who have started a family or want to start a business are unable to build a house. Many large families, old and young, have to live together."Thanks to the water supply project that China helped us build, now we only need to apply to the local water company and we will have running water in two weeks. Many young people have built their own houses and started to develop their own businesses. Canias in the past It was stagnant, and now it's about to take off," Lara said.At present, the water supply plant has been taken over and operated by the Colombian National Water Company for 2 years.34-year-old Jose Carlos Galera is a drinking water technical expert at the National Water Company of Colombia."China built us the best water supply plant and central control room in Central America. All monitoring and operations are automated. Before handing over the water supply plant to us, Chinese experts trained local employees, which benefited us a lot. "He said.Galera said that through his contacts with the Chinese, he had a better understanding of China."China has made great progress in the past few decades, and China also hopes to share their development achievements with other countries. Look at what the Chinese have done in Cañas, which has benefited so many Costa Rican people. We should cherish the friendship between Costa Rica and China, I hope the two countries will remain friendly forever."
