Home / Government / Local Governments News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Water supply resumes after oil spill scare
Adjust font size:

Environment officials in a south China city have assured residents that their water is again safe to drink after supplies to about 100,000 people were cut during an oil pollution scare on Saturday.

Domestic water supplies to about half the population in the urban area of Foshan city in west Guangdong Province were cut for more than six hours from 8:45 a.m. on Saturday after a two-kilometer long ivory-white slick was spotted in the Xijiang River, forcing restaurants and businesses to close and sparking a surge in bottled water sales.

Two pumps of the Gaoming Waterworks in Gaoming District were closed down while technicians cleaned their filters at a pumping station on the river, and officials began an emergency operation to soak up the oil and clean the river.

The city's marine affairs department also sent oil skimming boats to help clearing the pollutants.

Three other waterworks in charge of water supply to the urban areas of Foshan city were required to operate at full capacity to ensure the domestic water supply, while the city government has informed the citizens with cell phone text messages on the oil pollution.

The silt was cleared by 1:30 p.m. and water supply resumed at around 3 p.m. on Saturday.

"Tests show the water was safe to drink, but we will keep on monitoring the water quality of the river," said an official with the city's publicity department who just gave his surname as Li.

Environment officials have begun an investigation into the source of the pollution and the type of oil, which they said emitted a "strange unpleasant odour", but no pollutants were found in the upper reaches of the river.

The 2,075-meter-long Xijiang River, a major tributary of the Pearl River, runs through the western part of Guangdong. It is a major water resource for the cities of Foshan, Sanshui, Shunde, Zhongshan and Zhuhai.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- Billions invested to remedy water pollution
- Timetable set for pollution control in major lakes
- Green measures emphasized in development
Most Viewed >>
- Sex photos a hot buy in Guangzhou
- CPC leadership convenes to discuss gov't reshuffles
Questions and Answers More
Q: What kind of law is there in place to protect pandas?
A: In order to put the protection of giant pandas and other wildlife under the law, the Chinese government put the protection of rare animals and plants into the Constitution.
Useful Info
- Who's Who in China's Leadership
- State Structure
- China's Political System
- China's Legislative System
- China's Judicial System
- Mapping out 11th Five-Year Guidelines
Links
- Chinese Embassies
- International Department, Central Committee of CPC
- State Organs Work Committee of CPC
- United Front Work Department, Central Committee of CPC