Authorities in eastern Jiangxi Province said Thursday they will tear down a smelting company blamed for the tap water contamination that sickened over 110 people.

A total of 112 people were hospitalized Tuesday after drinking tap water with excessive levels of copper, chlorine and sodium, in the city of Ruichang.

An investigation on Wednesday showed that industrial sewage randomly discharged by the Hongyi Smelting Company had corroded and permeated into the tap-water pipeline and contaminated the water, said Liu Jiqing, director with the city's environmental protection bureau.

The city will send out construction teams to demolish the company's facilities by Friday, said a spokesman with the city government on Wednesday.

Hongyi had been ordered by the local government to stop production before, but the company said it had to operate from time to time to support its workers.

The city government also asked environmental authorities to overhaul potentially polluting companies to ensure drinking water safety, according to the spokesman.

Tests that are being conducted every two hours indicate the tap water is safe for drinking again, said the spokesman.

As of Thursday, 84 of the poisoned individuals had been released from the hospital.

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