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Residents examine a field polluted by the sewage discharge in the Baoan district of the city. Photo: CFP

Shenzhen reservoir and river hit by sewage spill

Water bureau blames ink company for the pollution, according to newspaper report

Angela Meng

Sewage has been discharged into a reservoir, river and farmland in Shenzhen turning fields in the area a reddish brown.

The water bureau in the Baoan district of the city said an ink mixing and cartridge company was responsible, the newspaper reported.

People living near the Tiegang Reservoir said that water feeding into their farmland had turned "blood red".

"It's very likely to be the result of an accident, like a spillage, or someone decided to dump the sewage instead of discarding it properly," said Xiong Yang, an official at the Green River environmental NGO.

"If the sewage seeps into the soil it's very difficult to clean up, so it's safe to say that the vegetables are now inedible."

The ink company Hamno Technology Co did not respond to calls asking for comment. The Baoan water bureau also did not answer calls. Xiong accused the city authorities of failing to regularly enforce environmental protection regulations.

A spokesman for the Water Supplies Department in Hong Kong said imported water from the Shenzhen Reservoir was far from the Tiegang Reservoir site.

No reports had been made to the department about the pollution at Tiegang, he said.

The department monitored water quality at a pumping station near Lo Wu around the clock and have observed no abnormalities, he added.

The Shenzhen authorities would report to them if there were any pollution issues concerning the Dong River, he said, which supplies Hong Kong.

An investigative report by the last year claimed that 173 out of the 310 rivers and streams running through the city were polluted.

A municipal environment commission also reported that water quality at 121 sampling stations, covering 85 per cent of the city, was "extremely poor".

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Shenzhen reservoir and river hit by sewage spill
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