Shanghai to improve water quality at schools

Shanghai will improve water quality and standardize the water supply mode in local middle and primary schools, local education authorities said.

About two-thirds of students failed to meet the recommended standard, which means they drink less than 1200 ml water a day, according a report on young people's drinking habits by the Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety under China Center for Disease Control and Prevention released earlier this year.

Officials said the insufficient water intake among students was related to the current water supply mode and quality in schools, where water must be boiled and filtered before drinking.

The city has started a project to improve the water quality and supply for middle and primary schools, according to Shanghai Education Commission.

Under this project, a drinking fountain with clean water supply will be installed into each school.

More than 400 schools in the city have already been equipped with the water fountains. Under the plan, the rest of the 1,200 schools will be receive water facilities by 2015.