Shanghai is being hit by a new wave of salt tide that affected
normal water supply in some districts of the metropolis, the
government said Saturday.
The tide, the second since summer began, started on Monday at
the mouth of the Yangtze River and is predicted to last over a
week, a spokesman with the municipal government information service
said.
Although measures have been taken, the spokesman said citizens
in some districts may still find insufficient tap water supply in
certain hours and the water may not taste as good as usual.
The government asked for understanding from water-users and
hopes everyone would avoid wasting water.
The spokesman said the government will not impose restrictions
for water use as the impact of salt tide is not beyond control.
The salt tide takes place at the mouth of the Yangtze River
every winter or early spring, when water flowing from the river
decreases, causing chloride level to rise and even?exceed the
national standard.
Low water levels have been reported in the upper reaches of the
Yangtze River due to rare drought this year. As a result, the salt
tide happened at least two months earlier than previous years.
The first salt tide hit Shanghai on Sept. 11 and lasted five
days. Water supply for Shanghai, a city of 17 million population,
remained normal.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2006)