Water supply to Harbin resumes

28-Nov-05

bid to ease public concerns over the water's safety as water supplies to 3.8 million residents in Harbin resumed after being suspended for 4 days. Tap water was restored to the city after a 100 km long slick of petrochemicals moved downstream from Harbin after an explosion at a petrochemical plant in Jilin on November 13, which caused benzene spill to contaminate the water. Over 1,000 soldiers and workers helped to install 1,200 tonnes of activated carbon in filtration beds at Harbin's main water plant over the weekend to ensure the resumption of the water supply. The carbon was brought in by freight train from other provinces. An inspection on Sunday morning found no trace of benzene at the city's main water source on the Songhua river, while the nitrobenzene level met the national standard of 0.0050 milligrammes per litre. Those responsible for the pollution of the river are likely to be punished by the state. The leakage of chemicals was not reported for over a week after the explosion by China National Petroleum Corporation. The slick is expected to reach the Russian part of the river by December 6 or 7 and reach the border city of Khabarovsk four days later.