Attendees pose for a group photo at the walking event.

U.S. Xylem Corporation's branch in China, Beijing Drainage Association, China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF), and the Center for Environmental Education and Communications in the Ministry of Environmental Protection jointly organized a walking event at Taoyuan Park in Beijing on March 17 to welcome the arrival of the 25th World Water Day (March 22).

The United Nations (UN) has designated "Waste water" as the upcoming World Water Day's theme, which aims to discourage the production of waste water and promote the recycling of water resources amongst the public.

The reason why organizers chose Taoyuan Park as the location of the walking event this year is that it is close to Huaifang Reclaimed Water Plant, which is one of the largest such factories in Asia and has been operating smoothly with equipment provided by U.S. Xylem. It is capable of recycling 600,000 cubic meters of waste water per day, which can be used to irrigate grasslands and other plants later.

"It is our honor and responsibility to be involved in the treatment of waste water and make an improvement of the natural environment in the capital city," said President of Xylem's Chinese branch Lü Shuping during the gathering and pledged that it would work with its partners to help the public have a better understanding of water recycling and ecological rehabilitation and encourage them to contribute to water conservation.

As Beijing is set to increase its capacity in the utilization of reclaimed water in the following several years, it is anticipated that the U.S. enterprise will further enlarge its market share and work more closely with local authorities in water recycling then.

At the gathering, Xylem announced that it would continue to implement its Watermark Charity Project in China this year, make an investment of U.S.$ 200,000 to build water facilities and open health lectures for people from economically underdeveloped regions, and hold contests with an emphasis upon water-related technologies and the cultivation of relevant interests amongst teenage Chinese students.

Those present at the walking event included representatives of social organizations engaged in the utilization of water resources, local media and social volunteers.

Photo shows participants at the walking event.