As of 8:00?PM Saturday, the front of the pollution stretch
on northeast China's Songhua River passed Dalianhe Township of
Yilan County, but has not reached the city of Jiamusi, monitoring
professionals said.
The source with Heilongjiang Environmental Protection Bureau
said as of 4:00?PM Saturday, the density of nitrobenzene in
Dalianhe was 0.0717 milligrams per liter, 3.22 times above the
standard.
On the other hand, the Dalai monitoring station in Jiamusi, the
second largest city along the lower reaches of the Songhua River,
reported having not detected the chemicals in the water of the
river.
Experts say that the 150-km pollution stretch, which slowed down
due to subfreezing temperature, is expected to reach Jiamusi on
Dec. 6.
The water pollution was caused by a chemical plant blast on
November 13 in neighboring Jilin Province, resulting in serious
leakage of poisonous substances into the Songhua River.
Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province with the Songhua River
as its main water supply source, enforced a four-day suspension of
water supply since November 24.
Currently, the water supply in Harbin has resumed and the water
quality of all its water supply stations have reached the national
standard.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2005)