LOCAL residents will be able to drink tap water fully meeting hygiene standards by 2010, the Jiefang Daily reported. A general plan aimed at improving tap water quality in Shanghai will be implemented this year.

According to the plan, Shanghai will take all necessary measures to bring the quality of its tap water up to the standards of the European Union by 2010.

For years, rusting and ageing water pipes have been a source of "secondary pollution" impairing the quality of tap water. From this year to 2005, the Shanghai government will spend 797 million yuan (US$96.3 million) on a large-scale reconstruction of the water distribution system.

After the upgrading of the water supply in the Yangpu and Minhang districts last year, several other major water facilities have already set time tables for the improvement of their equipment.

It is hoped that by 2010 all these installations will accomplish the in-depth reconstruction of the water supply system.

According to statistics from the Municipal Water Quality Monitoring Centre, collected last year, water quality has already reached its highest level in the history of the city.