The water supply and waste disposal systems in earthquake devastated regions are badly damaged. To expedite repairs, two groups of repair workers are headed for the quake-zone to assist victims.

The 18 engineers from the Shanghai Water Authority are experts in water distribution and drain piping. They gathered for the trip to Jiangyou and Mianyang.

The volunteers have their own lives and their own trials. Xu Xinxuan, is the team leader. His wife has just had an operation to stop the spread of liver cancer.

XU Xinxuan from Shanghai Water Supply Repair team said, "We've got more friends and relatives here. Our difficulties can easily be overcome. Our brothers and sisters in Sichuan need us more. Everyone should try to help whatever they can. We'll help them rebuild their homes. "

With the water repair crew on its way, more water filtration equipment is on its way from Fujian Province. Hundreds of water tanks and small generators have been donated, in a fund raising effort that has already raised 30 million yuan. After two days of travel, the engineers will arrive at Sichuan. Then, the work of restoring safe water supplies can begin.

Ten garbage trucks and dozens of portable toilets are also on their way to quake devastated areas.

Huang Xinghua, vice director of Shanghai Environ. & Sanitation Admin. Bureau, said, "The trucks and toilets are the most badly needed facilities in the quake zone. We collected these items in the shortest time possible."

The trucks and toilets will arrive in Deyang in the early hours of Wednesday. They will be used for urban garbage collection, transport and disposal. Their work will contribute to the ongoing, massive effort to prevent a public health crisis.

(CCTV May 21, 2008)