Authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, Friday cut water supplies for almost seven hours after detecting chemical pollution.

Water supplies were stopped at about 7:20 a.m. and resumed at about 2 p.m., a city government spokesman said.

At about 6 a.m. on Friday, an abnormal smell was detected in the water at the Chengxi and Yuehe water plants. An initial investigation found the water was contaminated with a phenol compound, which made it undrinkable.

The stoppage affected most residents and industrial production in the city, which has a population of more than 1.5 million.

The Huijin Water Co., Ltd., which exercises management over the two plants, said it had cleaned the water pipes and increased production of other water plants.

The city's environmental protection and maritime authorities have sent teams to investigate the cause of the pollution along the river, the source of the water plants. The city's water conservancy authority also opened the sluice gates, helping to discharge the contaminated water.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2009)