Excessive bacteria in contaminated water supply sickens thousands in N China

HOHHOT, July 29 -- A local health authority on Wednesday attributed pollution that sickened more than 2,600 people in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to heavy rain that caused contaminants to seep into the water supply.

Patients receive treatment in the Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University in Chifeng City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 29, 2009. Altogether 2,622 people have sought medication for gastrointestinal illness after the tap water supply was contaminated by rainfall Saturday in Chifeng City of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the local health authority said Wednesday. The patients, from eight downtown communities in Chifeng, complained of fever, diarrhea, stomachache and vomiting after drinking tap water at home Saturday and Sunday. The local government offered free medication for all the victims starting on Monday.

Gao Xihua, vice secretary general of the Chifeng City Committee of the Communist Party of China, said Wednesday that tests had shown an excessively high count of bacteria, including coliforms and salmonella, in samples taken from the supply.

"The rainwater, along with dirt, are major causes of the water pollution," he said.

Gao said 2,622 people had sought medicine for gastrointestinal illnesses after tap water supply was contaminated about 5:30 p.m..

In the 24 hours up to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1,112 new cases were reported. By Tuesday night, 59 people had been hospitalized for medical observation, a spokesman with the city's health department said.

People queue up to get drinking water from a fire engine in Chifeng City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 28, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

The patients, from eight downtown communities in Chifeng, complained of fever, diarrhea, stomach aches and vomiting after drinking water from taps in their homes Saturday and Sunday.

The local government started offering free medication to all victims on Monday.

On Monday night, a government official blamed the pollution on the heavy rainfall of July 23, which caused water from a nearby lake to flow into the supply system.

The contaminated system provides tap water for Chifeng's "new city center", a 17-square km area with a population of 58,000, said Zheng Fengjun, an official of Yulong Community.