Society

Water safe to drink after pollution affected 9,000

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-26 21:45

HARBIN - Latest tests show that drinking water in a northeastern China county is up to standard again after tainted drinking water affected 9,000 people there since April 22, said local authorities Tuesday.

Many local residents in Yilan county, Heilongjiang province, reported  having stomach aches after excessive amounts of e-coli bacteria was found in the drinking water.

People in 2,675 households in seven residential areas had been affected by the tainted water, as of Sunday afternoon, according to the county government.

Zhang Wen, an official with the county, said some underground water supply pipes were aged and had fissures, allowing waste water to mix with it.

The water pipes had been repaired and dirty water purified after the county launched an emergency response plan, according to a statement from the county government.

The statement also said that 1,800 household visits were conducted and no one else appeared to be sickened.

Six temporary water supply stations set up during the repair will be kept operating for two more days to help alleviate residents' concerns over the drinking water supply. The stations will stop operating at 6 pm Thursday.