At least 15,000 meters of pipes from China will be used to repair the aqueducts in three towns in northern Colombia, an official said on Wednesday.

The ductile linear iron pipes, worth approximately 8 billion pesos (about US$4.1 million), will benefit residents of the towns of San Jacinto, Arjona and Turbaco in the Bolivar region, said Jorge Mendoza, governor of that region.

He said the Chinese pipes will provide 90 percent of potable water service in the region. The pipe paving project will begin next week, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2010)