A staff member of the All-China Women's Federation helps Gansu locals improve their water supply in Shanlin village of Dingxi city, Gansu on July 27. [Photo/Xinhua]

Over the past 15 years, some 370,000 people in Northwest China's Gansu province have been provided with better access to water thanks to the "Water Cellar for Mothers" charitable project.

Gansu has long had problems with water shortages. Its people as well as its agriculture have suffered over the years due to a dry climate, little rainfall and arid inland topography.

According to statistics, the charity project has raised nearly 65 million yuan ($9.75 million) which has been spent across Gansu's 76 counties, cities and districts, as well as its 193 towns and 354 villages.

Since the project started in March 2001, 39,910 rainwater collection tanks and 75 small concentrated water supply projects have been put in place throughout the province.

A family in Longtan village, Gansu fetches water from their rainwater collection tank on July 27. [Photo/Xinhua]

The charitable project is the result of the combined efforts of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), the Beijing Municipal People's Government and China Central Television (CCTV).

It aims to help rural women and their families in western China better resolve their difficulties in getting safe drinking water under the implementation of the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF).

The "Water Cellar for Mothers" program has been expanded from the collection of rain water by family units in its earlier stage to a comprehensive development model.

The project now covers not only the construction of rainwater collection tanks, but also the production of methane, cultivation of livestock, and the building of environmental-friendly courtyards, under the support of governmental bodies at various levels across the entire nation.

Edited by Owen Fishwick