60,000 affected by E China water pollution

NANCHANG - Tap water for 60,000 people was cut off Monday due to the pollution of a water source in East China's Jiangxi province, government sources said.

Around 10 am Monday, an oily substance was seen floating near a water intake used by a tap water company on the Liaohe River, the environmental protection bureau of Yongxiu county said.

An initial investigation blamed the pollution on an oil pipeline leak upstream. The pipeline has been shut down.

Local environmental authorities have sent workers to clean up the pollution and the tap water network.

The county government has sent fire trucks to bring water to local residents.

No water pollution has been reported in areas near Yongxiu county.