[nneonneo]

The running water in even large cities isn’t potable, since the Chinese apparently don’t put a high emphasis on water purification. Instead, the tap water is cleaned just enough to be free from major impurities and contaminants. Everyone is used to just boiling their water instead.

In all likelihood, even if they went to the expense of cleaning the water to drinking water levels, people would still boil their water and distrust the tap. So, I think drinking water is not a high priority.

Also, it’s uncommon to have running water in very small communities. Here we’re talking about villages with an average population of 1000. Well-water works just fine for many rural folks, and so it is in China as well.