The worst algae pollution ever seen in the area has bloomed in the Shangzhuang Reservoir, northwest of Beijing, deteriorating water quality and killing fish, according to Beijing Times reports.

This is the third algae bloom reported in Beijing since mid-July. The previous two smaller algae blooms occurred on July 19 in lake water that links the Beijing Summer Palace and another area in Beijing's eastern Chaoyang District.

The Shangzhuang Reservoir is one of the city's major reservoirs as well as a scenic area. The reservoir is about 4.2 kilometers long and was formed by a dam construction cutting off an old waterway 30 kilometers northwest of the city's urban areas. The algae bloom has covered over ten thousand square meters across the reservoir waters.

On Monday, the Water Affairs Bureau of Haidian District said that the algae bloom was caused by continuous high temperatures, recent heavy rains, increased water pollution from waste discharges into the reservoir by adjacent villages, and an increasing number of tourists.

The bureau has ordered removal of blooms and other solid waste from the reservoir waters, amounting to almost one ton per day, according to reports. However, the water quality is still deteriorating and fish are beginning to die, giving off a strong smell over the reservoir.

The bureau says more workers have been mobilized to fight against the pollution.

(CRI August 15, 2007)