A million Chinese without tap water after acid spill

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IANS

A million Chinese without tap water after acid spill

2009-02-21 16:14:12
Last Updated: 2009-02-21 16:17:23

Beijing: Carbolic acid spilled into a river from a chemical plant has forced the suspension of tap water supplies to more than one million people in China's eastern city of Yancheng, officials said on Saturday.

The privately owned Biaoxin Chemical Company was found illegally discharging waste water into a river in Jiangsu Province, Xue Yu, Secretary-General of the city administration, said.

Two water plants in the city were found contaminated with phenol after the waste water was discharged into the river.

The Yancheng City has three tap water plants, which provide drinking water to the city's 1.5 million people. One water plant was not contaminated, said Xue.

Officials at the two water plants noticed an unusual smell early Friday and tests confirmed the presence of carbolic acid, or phenol, making the water unfit for drinking.

Also read: China dairy boss appeals sentence in milk scandal

Residents at the second floor or above have no access to tap water due to the inadequate water pressure, a manager of Huijin Water Co. Ltd., which manages the two plants, said.

The stoppage of the tap water has also affected industrial production in the city.

It was not immediately known when the two water plants would resume operation. Meanwhile, the workers are cleaning the water pipes.

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