Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua has called for increased efforts in waste water disposal and a “toilet revolution” to improve living conditions in countryside.

He made the comments on Jan 24 at a symposium on sewage treatment in rural areas in Chaohu city, East China’s Anhui province.

Hu said sewage disposal is the weak link in renovating rural areas, and asked local governments to achieve targets in time.

Hu further said that the methods used should recognize practical economic and social conditions, and be diversified according to specific characteristics in different regions.

Cross-department coordination and county-level integration is also needed, according to the vice-premier.

He also called for the comprehensive control of waste water from the source, garbage disposal, sludge dredging, and ecological restoration to eliminate black and odorous water in rural areas.

Government should play a leading role, mobilize all forces to participate in the construction and operation of the project, and improve long-term operational and management mechanisms, he said.

Hu also went to several local villages to learn about the conditions of their domestic sewage treatment facilities.