Urban water supply disrupted in rain-battered Hebei

SHIJIAZHUANG -- Water supply in the urban area of Shijiazhuang, capital of North China's Hebei province, was disrupted from Thursday night, after flood water was found to have contaminated the city's drinking water.

Shijiazhuang's water supply firm said Friday that supply would be back to normal in about five days.

Torrential rain in North China's Hebei province since Wednesday morning has left 35 people dead and 77 missing, according to the provincial civil affairs department on Friday. About 211,642 people have been evacuated over safety concerns.

The supply issue was caused by floods disrupting sediment in two reservoirs that supply water to six districts in Shijiazhuang.

The water company said it was limiting water supply for industrial users, pumping out underground water and dispatching water tankers to provide drinking water for residential use.

From Friday, water will be delivered three times a day, for two hours each time.

The city is among the worst-hit in the province during the recent bad weather.

Relief supplies including tents, quilts and clothing have been distributed to those in need.

The National Commission for Disaster Relief and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have sent staff to assist the relief work.