The water supply in the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's eastern route is safe and can be sent through, officials said on Thursday as they started a 24-hour water delivery experiment on the Jiangsu section.

With the purpose of checking the construction, equipment and water quality, the water flow test was scheduled in the Jiangdu station from 11 am on Thursday to 11 am on Friday.

Under construction since 2002, the eastern route will begin operating in the third quarter of this year.