A novel solution born from adversity

In the summer of 2007, large quantities of foul-smelling blue-green algae contaminated the famous Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, affecting the water supply of more than 1.5 million residents.

The incident, which was caused by industrial waste produced by local factories, sparked widespread panic as residents rushed to stores to stock up on bottled water.

"When we turned on the tap, the water that came out was very foul-smelling," recalls Wuxi resident Ji Beilei, 33. "The small river that passes through our neighborhood turned deep green and emitted an odor. We had no choice but to leave our windows shut during this period."