The Ministry of Ecology and Environment plans to eradicate black and odorous water bodies at the doorsteps of rural residents by 2027, Pei Xiaofei, a spokesman with the national government body said in a news conference on Friday.

As part of its efforts to improve rural living environments, the ministry has identified and registered more than 16,000 heavily polluted water bodies across the country as part of a special rectification program.

By the end of last year, 98.7 percent of the 5,042 large water bodies among them had been treated, he said, adding that the ministry will accelerate its work to issue action plans for protecting and treating water bodies close to communities and for treating small rural water bodies.

Focusing on weak links in the management of water bodies at people's doorsteps, the ministry, jointly with other national government bodies, will roll out five dedicated campaigns, including ones on addressing water pollution in industrial parks and comprehensively managing livestock and poultry waste, according to Pei.

The ministry will strive to ensure that water bodies close to rural communities have no abnormal color, no foul odor, and no visible floating debris. "Together with all sectors of society, we will tackle problems one by one and work collectively to turn the grand blueprint of building a Beautiful China into a splendid reality, step by step," he said.