(Yicai Global) June 12 -- The World Bank has rubber-stamped three loans worth a total USD600 million to help China improve its water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure.

The international lender will extend funds to three clean water-strapped provinces, namely eastern Zhejiang, southern Jiangxi, and northern Liaoning, China's official state news agency Xinhua reported.

The projects will help the three regions to improve water resource management and services, while strengthening their resilience to climate change, said Dai Baile, director of sustainable development at the World Bank's Beijing office.

Zhejiang will get USD150 million to boost resources at Qiandao Lake and Xin'an River Basin, which serve 720,000 people in Chun'an county and Jiande city. The project aims to manage soil nutrients and pests, handle livestock waste, while preserving forests and rivers. 

Jiangxi will receive USD200 million for an urban and rural water supply integration and rural sewage treatment project, which covers seven counties and a population of more than 2.2 million. The project will pilot a comprehensive management model that involves a treatment plant, pipe network and household sewage access.

The World Bank will provide USD250 million to Liaoning to boost water safety in five cities that are home to a total 5.7 million people. The project will improve infrastructure and reduce leakage, as well as establish monitoring systems.

Editor: William Clegg