Water source out of danger in NW China city
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-08-27 14:52
HANCHENG -- The water source area of Hancheng City in northwest China's
Shaanxi Province, which has been under a threat of chemical pollution, is now
out of danger.
A local government official said Sunday that the Xuefeng Reservoir at the
water source area would resume water supply for the city soon.
Around 9:00 p.m. Friday, a tank truck loaded with 25 tons of liquid caustic
soda fell into an upstream river of the reservoir in Hancheng partly due to
slippery road caused by rains, the official said.
One person in the truck was killed on the spot, and another was seriously
burned.
The local government had a dam built at the site where the truck fell, about
five kilometers away from the reservoir, which is the source of drinking water
for about 100,000 residents.
Meanwhile, at least 10 tons of acetic acid and hydrochloric acid was
transported from the provincial capital of Xi'an to neutralize the caustic soda
that remained inside the truck and flew into the river.
According to local environmental protection authorities, the neutralization
process will not cause new pollution, and the pH value of the water in the
Xuefeng Reservoir is at a normal level.
Ten spare wells have been put into use after the chemical spill to ensure
drinking water supply for residents in Hancheng.
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