Drinking water has not been affected by the newly-found blue
algae bloom in east China's Taihu Lake, local authorities said on
Sunday.
A satellite map from China Meteorological Bureau on Friday
revealed a large blue algae outbreak in the central-western and
northern part of the lake, close to Yixing City and Wujin District
of Changzhou City.
"The outbreak has not affected drinking water safety because the
algae is found far from the water intakes. The quality of tap water
in Wuxi improved on Saturday and Sunday," said Li Jianqiu, a
spokesman with Wuxi Utilities Bureau.
The nearby city of Changzhou, which uses the Yangtze River as
its water source, has also not been affected, said a government
spokesperson.
Continuous rain during the past few days also helped the lake
recover,but ecological experts warned the blue algae in Taihu Lake
could easily reemerge when the water temperature moves above 30
degrees Celsius. Meteorological departments at state and local
levels are closely monitoring the outbreak and the changes of water
quality.
The Taihu Lake crisis began late last month, when a low water
level in the lake and the accumulation of waste and untreated
sewage triggered the rapid growth of blue algae, turning the water
putrid and cutting the supply of tap water to Wuxi.
All the towns around Taihu have been ordered to establish sewage
treatment plants, and chemical factories will have to meet new
water emission standards.
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2007)
