Drought threaten water supply in Guangdong
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-29 15:59

Salt tides are severely threatening fresh water supplies in southern China's Guangdong province, with residents in some cities advised not to drink tap water.

The tidal phenomenon, caused by drought, is at its worst in several years with the salt water levels in some local rivers 12 times higher than standard drinking requirements.

"The biggest salt water tide this year has now reached the province and it will last... until January 3," the Guangdong's Department of Water Resources vice director Huang Qingliang said.

Fresh water supplies in Zhuhai and Zhongshan, two coastal cities in the province close to Macau, and Panyu district in the provincial capital of Guangzhou, will be most affected.

The salt tides, which occur when sea water floods coastal areas because of serious drought, in the Pearl River Delta region has been worsening since September.

Water levels have fallen by 52.9 percent since last year because of the drought, according to the government statistics.

The Xijiang and Beijiang rivers, two major tributaries of the Pearl river, witnessed their lowest-ever water levels in recent days, allowing the sea water to flow in, Huang said.

Zhuhai government has advised residents to drink bottled water instead of tap water, which mainly comes from the Xijiang river.

Local authorities have also stopped water supplies for gardening in public areas, car washing and sauna bath businesses for one week.

Huang said serious salt tides in Guangdong could last until March next year.

Guangdong has suffered from salt tides in the past, with the most recent lasting from the end of last year until May.

The salt tide situation is the latest in a spate of water problems to plague China, highlighting the growing environmental concerns as the nation pursues economic growth.

China's environmental bureau said Wednesday underground water in 90 percent of Chinese cities was polluted.

"A survey showed that underground water in 90 percent of Chinese cities has been polluted by organic and inorganic pollutants, and there are signs that (pollution) is spreading," state press quoted the State Environmental Protection Administration as saying.

The pollution is generally caused by industrial waste from factories or untreated human waste discharged into rivers and then seeping into the ground.