China's revised Water Supply Regulations, issued by the State Council, or the Cabinet, late last year and effective from June 1, may seem like a technical policy document. Yet their impact could flow directly into the lives of ordinary people. Designed to strengthen water security and improve services, the regulations aim to ensure a safer and more reliable water supply for 1.4 billion citizens across the country.

China's history of tap water stretches as far back as that of many Western countries. British businessmen built the country's first modern tap water plant in Shanghai in the 1880s.

But for much of the population, clean water supply remained a luxury until China launched reform and opening-up in the late 1970s.

Fifty years ago, tap water was available in my home city Xi'an, Shaanxi province. Yet, hundreds of families still depended on a single public tap installed at a street corner. Lack of funds meant that water pipes could not be extended into every household.

As a result, people of my generation became skilled at carrying water home using shoulder poles fitted with baskets at either end. In rural areas, the situation was even more difficult. People had to fetch water from rivers, rainwater pools or wells. In my father's village, located 50 kilometers east of where the Terracotta Warriors were buried, residents depended on the only 100-meter deep well for drinking water. Life was hard.

Over the past decades, however, huge investments have transformed the country's water supply system. Thousands of reservoirs have been built. Massive diversion projects now carry water across hundreds of kilometers to cities facing water shortages. Deep wells have been drilled using modern technology while extensive efforts have been made to clean polluted rivers and improve water sources.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, by the end of 2025, tap water penetration was 96 percent in rural areas and 99 percent in urban areas. The implementation of the new regulations is expected to consolidate these achievements and further improve both the quantity and quality of the water supply.

The regulations make governments at all levels responsible for water supply security and require the same standards for water quality in both urban and rural areas.

If fully implemented, these regulations could prove to be a big blessing for rural residents, many of whom get tap water of varying quality.

In cities and towns across China, tap water is usually supplied by State-run plants and subjected to strict quality control as part of municipal responsibilities. In rural areas, tap water supply is often provided by a mix of villages, towns, nearby factories and private investors. Such fragmentation can result in inconsistent standards and inadequate water security.

The new regulations seek to change that. Relevant departments of local governments will be required to inspect water quality regularly and establish full-chain management systems covering every stage of supply. With the screws tightened by administrators, stricter supervision and greater investment are expected from both governments and operators, helping ensure cleaner and safer tap water for rural residents.

Urban residents stand to benefit too. For years, disputes have arisen between consumers and suppliers over various charges.

Now that millions of residents live in high apartment buildings, insufficient water pressure has become a persistent headache for those living on upper floors. Installing high-pressure pumps costs money. But while residents on higher floors are willing to pay for more powerful pumps, those living on lower levels often see no reason to share the expense for a problem that doesn't bother them.

Another challenge lies underground. Water pipes in houses built decades ago have become worn or rusty with age.

Replacing them is the only viable solution, but such projects require cooperation from all residents. Who will organize the work? Who will pay the bill? For many urban residents, these questions have remained stuck in the pipeline.

The new regulations could help break the deadlock. They stipulate that suppliers can charge only those fees approved by local governments for water consumption and a few other services. Other costs, including the upgrading of water supply equipment and facilities, must be shouldered by suppliers.

As China shifts its focus from expanding access to tap water to improving quality and service, citizens of the country are keeping their eyes and mouths open for clean tap water.

The author is former deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily.

kangbing@chinadaily.com.cn