China will advance construction of seawater desalination projects on about 100 islands in coastal provinces including Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Hainan in the next 3 to 5 years, an official document revealed on Dec. 12, China News reported.

The document was jointly released by China’s National Development and Reform Commission and China’s State Oceanic Administration.

The projects, which are designed to help desalinate some 600,000 tons of seawater a day, are expected to effectively solve the water problem of insular residents.

According to the project, seawater desalination will be one of the main ways to supply water by 2020. The desalinated seawater will basically meet people’s need for personal water and water for production, ensuring the sustainable development of the island economy, national defense, and society.

In addition, seawater desalination equipment supported by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will be encouraged for remote and densely-populated small islands.