The major reservoir for the water-treatment plant that will supply tap water to the World Expo Zone was finished yesterday.

The century-old Nanshi Water Plant is located inside the World Expo zone on the west bank of the Huangpu River.

The plant is being expanded and renovated, and will be fitted with advanced water-purifying technology.

Untreated water is to be released into the renovated water plant in March in preparation for the treatment facility's opening before the end of June.

Residents in downtown Huangpu, Luwan, Xuhui, Jing'an, Changning districts and parts of Putuo and Minhang will benefit from the new plant, which will provide tap water meeting national standards, said officials from the builder, the Shanghai Construction Group.

The reservoir is 8.25 meters deep.

The renovation project has raised the water plant's capacity from 196,000 cubic meters a day in the early 1950s to 880,000 cubic meters.

(Shanghai Daily December 15, 2008)