A worker collects a water sample from the Wei River for testing in Weinan, Shaanxi, Jan. 3, 2010. The Yellow River, the water source for millions, has been contaminated by a diesel fuel leak despite efforts to contain the spill in a tributary, forcing authorities along the river to suspend water supplies. [Xinhua]
A recent diesel oil pipeline leakage in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has polluted part of the Yellow River reaches that run across central China's Henan Province, the website Chinanews.com.cn reports.
Running through eight cities in Henan Province, the Yellow River provides the source of drinking water for Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, two of the province's largest cities.
According to the latest water quality monitoring statistics, the water in the western sections of Henan's Gongyi Bridge above the Yellow River have indicated higher levels of pollution, while the eastern sections so far have remained unaffected. The pollution has not yet reached the original source of the drinking water in cities along the Yellow River, the report said.
The report also said cities along the Yellow River have all added monitoring stations to check the water quality every hour.
The Sanmenxia Dam, located in Sanmenxia city, the first city in Henan Province that Yellow River passes through, has stopped generating electricity and dammed up the river to prevent polluted water from flowing, the report said.
Zhang Dawei, the Vice Governor of Henan Province, said three blocking belts will be built upstream, midstream and downstream on the waters along the dam. The construction is scheduled to be completed before Monday afternoon.
