The efforts have paid off.

Tang Daiqiang, an employee at Nanjiao Water Co, inspects the bank of the Siduxi section of the river in Luzhou every day. Water is diverted from that section to the Nanjiao Water Plant, which provides drinking water to 80 percent of the residents in the city.

"I used to be able to fill a big bag with rubbish in less than an hour after starting the inspection. The rubbish included plastic bags and woven bags. Now after one day of inspection, I can only fill a small bucket with rubbish," Tang said.