Reuters AlertNet Lite - Beijing reservoir unfit even for irrigation-report

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Beijing reservoir unfit even for irrigation-report

28 Nov 2006 13:00:01 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Water from a reservoir that serves as Beijing's fourth-biggest source of drinking water is unfit even for irrigation, state media reported on Tuesday, underlining the gravity of China's water pollution problem.

The official Xinhua news agency cited a report by the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau as saying that water in the Guanting reservoir fell short of standards for level five on the country's scale of water quality.

Water at levels one to three is considered potable, while that at level five is fit only for irrigation, Xinhua said.

It added that around half of the lakes and ponds in the city's scenic spots were so polluted that they could not be used for irrigation.

China faces a serious water pollution problem that is compounding water shortages in many cities.

The official China Daily last week cited an unnamed official as saying that two-thirds of Chinese cities face water shortages, in part because large amounts of untreated waste water are pumped directly into lakes and rivers.

Last November, an explosion at a benzene plant in the northeastern province of Jilin caused 100 tonnes of toxic benzene to spill into the Songhua River, leaving millions in the downstream city of Harbin without drinking water for nearly a week.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Topics

• Water

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• China profile

· View Beijing
· View Harbin
· View Jilin
· View Chin

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Global Fund round 6 grants to the Alliance of up to $83m will enable much needed work with those most vulnerable to HIV
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• The Horn of Africa: Droughts are followed by floods - Welthungerhilfe mobilizes 200,000 euros for Ethiopia and Kenya - appeal for donations
Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action) - Germany

• Flooding increases humanitarian needs in Somalia
MSF International

• NCA sends aid to Kenya's flood victims
Norwegian Church Aid - Norway

• Alliance urges action to close the HIV services gap at International Development Committee session on global HIV epidemic
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

MORE >>

Latest news

• Beijing reservoir unfit even for irrigation-report

• UK minister calls on China to act on climate change

• Satellite to track elusive Pakistani snow leopards

• China safety boss pounds desk in anger at mine deaths

• Soros tells China to join oil, mine watchdog body

MORE >>

Last updated:Tue Nov 28 13:02:35 2006