Participants begin walking.

Xylem (China) recently launched a public benefit activity on the theme of "Walking for Water" for the annual World Water Day with China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) in Beijing.

During the event, participants experienced a trip to carry water by walking on a route set out around a Beijing park in the Chaoyang district.

The activity was held as part of China Water Week Campaign with support from the Center for Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

At the event, Yan Shidong, deputy-director of the Center, presented awards to winners, along with President of Xylem (China) and North Asia Region Lü Shuping and Nan Jing, the secretary-general assistant of CWDF.

Some 180 people from different fields including water-related industries, CWDF, and news media attended the event. Organizers hoped to raise public awareness of sustainability by sharing the experience of walking to collect water.

Participants at the event.

Water shortage has become a serious issue and one of the main factors impeding improvements in environmental quality in China.

Therefore, China has implemented laws such as The Environment Protection Law, The Action Plan for Prevention and Treatment of Water Pollution, and The Environmental Protection Tax Law.

These laws have better curbed the water pollution as the government has tightened its supervision and enforcement.

Meanwhile, water-environmental protection requires every citizen to save water and contribute to the water-conserving society.

Lü said: “The Watermark Project initiated by Xylem, has brought safe water-related solutions to different places around the world, and inspired staff to positively shoulder corporate social responsibilities.

"We will incorporate the awareness of being a responsible enterprise into our operations, creating a harmonious world with our clients and partners," Lü added.

Xylem launched the Watermark Project in China along with CWDF in 2009. By the end of last year, the joint effort had collected donations worth of U.S.$ 2.9 million to support 100 water and sanitation projects, benefiting over 60,000 students and faculty staff.

In 2018, Xylem will invest U.S.$ 200,000 to support the Watermark Project and promote drinking water and sanitation facilities in schools in remote areas.

A participant crosses the finish line.