Water safe, residents of Hangzhou suburb are told

Residents of Hubu village in southwestern Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, have been reassured that their tap water is safe again and that the government will provide free medical treatment to residents who need it, the mayor's hotline said on Thursday.

The city government has promised to clean the water pipes in the area and continue to monitor the quality of water supplied to Hubu.

An investigative team is probing a pollution incident that originated with improper operations at a nearby garbage disposal facility, the city's water bureau said on Thursday.

On Sunday, some residents of Hubu reported that their tap water had a foul odor and that they had experienced allergic reactions, diarrhea and dizziness after using it.

A preliminary investigation by the city's water bureau found that discharges from a kitchen waste disposal site near the village had invaded household water pipes when workers violated proper handling practices.

The bureau cut off the pollution at the source, washed the pipes and provided bottled water to residents. It said in a notice on Thursday that the tap water has been tested and found to be safe to use.

Investigators are working to identify the people who were responsible.

Qin Jirong contributed to the story.