NE China city takes measures against water pollution

An excited boy gets water pumped from a well in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 24, 2005. Harbin's major water source Songhuajiang River has been polluted due to blasts at a chemical plant in neighboring Jilin Province Nov. 13.

Environmental protection workers inspect the water pollution situation on the Songhuajiang River in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 24, 2005. The toxic benzene-contaminated water of the river arrived in Harbin early Nov. 24. The river was polluted due to blasts at a chemical plant in neighboring Jilin Province Nov. 13. Now, the benzene and nitrobenzene density in the water is declining gradually after days of sedimentation and adsorption. The Harbin city government has also added a large amount of active carbon powders into the river to help clean the water. Harbin, home to a population of 9 million including 3.8 million in the urban area, has cut off normal water supply in the urban area since Nov. 23, an emergency action taken to ensure public safety.

Environmental protection workers inspect the water pollution situation on the Songhuajiang River in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 24, 2005. The toxic benzene-contaminated water of the river arrived in Harbin early Nov. 24.

A section of the Songhuajiang River in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 24, 2005. The toxic benzene-contaminated water of the river arrived in Harbin early Nov. 24. The river was polluted due to blasts at a chemical plant in neighboring Jilin Province Nov. 13. The Harbin city government has also added a large amount of active carbon powders into the river to help clean the water.