The north extension of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project eastern route started its first winter water transfer on Friday to increase the water supply in north China.

Diverting water to the Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality, the transfer is aimed at ensuring water supply for spring irrigation in 2023 and further replenishing groundwater in the region, according to the China South-to-North Water Diversion Corporation Limited.

Aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows the scenery along the Grand Canal in Cangzhou City, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Luo Xuefeng)

The move plans to transfer 216 million cubic meters of water to Hebei and Tianjin from Dec. 9, 2022, to May 31, 2023, said the company.

Faced with the challenges of winter water diversion in the frozen period, the Ministry of Water Resources and the company will conduct inspections and strengthen management and coordination work.

The eastern route, one of the three routes of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project, transfers water from eastern Jiangsu Province to areas including Tianjin and Shandong.

Since 2019, the north extension of the route has diverted a total of 248 million cubic meters of water to Hebei and Tianjin.

(Source: Xinhua)