Failure in the drinking water system was blamed for poisoning in
northeast China's Liaoning Province, said local sources on
Thursday.
The sewage pipeline was blocked and valve in the water storage
pool was broken. As a result, sewage leaked into the water storage
pool and caused the poisoning, according to an unnamed official
with the city government of Fuxin.
Liu Jishun, general manager with the water supply company in
Fuxin, was sacked for negligence while eight other officials
received punishment of warning or having the misconduct recorded
and kept in archives.
The accident took place last Tuesday, when residents from 2,636
households of the Gaode Huayuan Community of Taiping district in
Fuxin developed symptoms like fever, vomiting and diarrhea after
drinking the faucet water.
A total of 1,139 people went to see doctors, among whom 59 were
hospitalized.
"They are in stable condition and recovering," said the
official, without revealing how many had been discharged to
date.
People in the community were provided with bottled water before
Sunday, when disinfection ended and drinking water quality met an
acceptable standard.
Related: Tainted water leaves thousands poisoned
(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2008)