China plans to invest more than 330 billion yuan (US$41.3 billion) to build sewage treatment facilities in urban areas from 2006 to 2010, a Ministry of Construction senior official said Tuesday.

"Work on urban waste water treatment facilities and pipelines will be speeded up," said Vice Minister of Construction Qiu Baoxing.

By the end of 2007, the country will complete the renovation of the water pipe networks that have been operating for more than 50 years or those that are damaged, he said.

Not less than 95 percent of urban homes will be provided with clean water by the year 2010, up from 91.1 percent at the end of 2005.

Qiu said China had increased efforts to improve urban water safety, but is still facing "prominent" problems such as water shortages, worsening pollution and degradation of its rivers.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2006)