Reservoir water tests clear
By Cai Wenjun |
January 9, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The environmental watchdog in Handan City said yesterday that no excessive levels of aniline had been found in its reservoir following a chemical leak in neighboring Shanxi Province in December.
However, high levels of the chemical were found 3 to 4 kilometers upstream of the Yuecheng Reservoir, the city's major water resource.
There, aniline levels were five times the national standard, local officials said.
Aniline, used in the manufacture of polyurethane, can be toxic to humans.
An initial investigation has revealed that a loose drainage valve at a chemical plant owned by the Tianji Coal Chemical Industry Group in Changzhi, a city in Shanxi, was the cause of the chemical leak.
Four company officials have been sacked, and the company ordered suspended for safety overhaul.
Nearly 9 tons of aniline leaked into the Zhuozhang River and another 30 tons had been contained in a nearby disused reservoir.
The city government of Handan said yesterday it would launch measures to prevent pollutants flowing into the Yuecheng Reservoir, China National Radio reported.
The water in the reservoir is being checked daily, Handan officials said, as part of tightened monitoring after they were told about the leak on Saturday. Officials had cut the city's water supply on hearing the news and complained about the delay by authorities in Shanxi in informing them of the leak.
Water from the Yuecheng Reservoir was shut off and an alternative underground water source was brought into use. It is not known when the reservoir will be back in use.
There was panic buying of bottled water in Handan where residents expressed anger at what they perceived to be a cover-up on the part of the Changzhi government which left them no time to make sure they had sufficient water at home.
Changzhi City officials apologized on Monday for taking five days to report the chemical leak. They said they had underestimated its seriousness.
Meanwhile, China Business News reported yesterday that a Handan official said the leak happened on December 26 and not December 31 as stated by the Changzhi authorities. However, it said it had been unable to confirm that date.
However, high levels of the chemical were found 3 to 4 kilometers upstream of the Yuecheng Reservoir, the city's major water resource.
There, aniline levels were five times the national standard, local officials said.
Aniline, used in the manufacture of polyurethane, can be toxic to humans.
An initial investigation has revealed that a loose drainage valve at a chemical plant owned by the Tianji Coal Chemical Industry Group in Changzhi, a city in Shanxi, was the cause of the chemical leak.
Four company officials have been sacked, and the company ordered suspended for safety overhaul.
Nearly 9 tons of aniline leaked into the Zhuozhang River and another 30 tons had been contained in a nearby disused reservoir.
The city government of Handan said yesterday it would launch measures to prevent pollutants flowing into the Yuecheng Reservoir, China National Radio reported.
The water in the reservoir is being checked daily, Handan officials said, as part of tightened monitoring after they were told about the leak on Saturday. Officials had cut the city's water supply on hearing the news and complained about the delay by authorities in Shanxi in informing them of the leak.
Water from the Yuecheng Reservoir was shut off and an alternative underground water source was brought into use. It is not known when the reservoir will be back in use.
There was panic buying of bottled water in Handan where residents expressed anger at what they perceived to be a cover-up on the part of the Changzhi government which left them no time to make sure they had sufficient water at home.
Changzhi City officials apologized on Monday for taking five days to report the chemical leak. They said they had underestimated its seriousness.
Meanwhile, China Business News reported yesterday that a Handan official said the leak happened on December 26 and not December 31 as stated by the Changzhi authorities. However, it said it had been unable to confirm that date.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
