URUMQI, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will launch a project with an investment of nearly 2 billion yuan (about 3 billion U.S. dollars) to provide safe drinking water for residents.

The project aims to divert or pump water from Yurungkax River and Karakax River in the prefecture, and set up facilities such as pipes and water treatment plants, seeking to improve the quality of drinking water for 1.5 million residents in Hotan city and three other counties, according to local water conservancy bureau.

The construction will start in August and finish before the end of 2019.

Hotan Prefecture is on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Lack of safe drinking water has long been a problem. Some residents in remote villages have to drink river water directly, which may pose a risk to their health.

After completion, the project will provide 325,600 cubic meters of water on a daily basis.