Water quality fears in China following diesel leak

A pipeline leak in northern China has polluted one of the Yellow River's major tributaries with diesel and raised concerns over water quality in the region.

Workers from the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have been labouring since the Wednesday December 30th to limit the spread of the pollution and clean up the waterway.

According to Chinese state media, approximately 150,000 litres of diesel flowed into the Wei River before the pipeline was closed by the CNPC.

Bloomberg reported that the situation remains serious, however, the company has claimed that the pollution has been prevented from contaminating the Yellow River.

Residents in the Shaanxi province, where the leak originated, have been advised against using water from the tributary.

There were serious concerns that the pollution could reach the Yellow River, which is a source of drinking water for millions of people.

CNPC has constructed a series of barriers and dams in both the tributary and main waterway to contain the diesel spill.

Third-party construction work was blamed for the accident in an official statement released by the organisation on January 2nd.

Posted by Joseph Hutton