Drinking water quality action needed in China

The Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection has called for all local authorities to monitor drinking water quality in their areas more closely.

This follows an incident in the Sichuan Province, which saw locals forced to buy bottled water after main supplies were contaminated by a chemical plant during a period of heavy rainfall.

With flooding expected to become more commonplace during the rainy season, the government is desperate to avoid a repeat scenario.

It has ordered local bodies to scrutinise the emissions of pharmaceutical, chemical and papermaking firms to make sure pollutants do not end up in public waterways.

Wastewater treatment facilities will also need to be closely monitored to ensure they do not flood into drinking water areas and any incidents of environmental pollution need to be highlighted more promptly.

Elsewhere in the Asian country, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation was recently forced to clean up two oil leaks in the Bohai Bay region.

Posted by Lauren Steadman