甘肃兰州自来水污染原因系原油泄漏

甘肃兰州自来水污染事件引起了数百万居民的恐慌，通过调查发现，造成兰州自来水苯超标的原因，系中国石油天然气公司兰州石化分公司一条管道发生原油泄漏、污染了供水企业的自流沟所致。

A major tap water scare has affected millions of people for a second day in Northwest China’s Gansu province. Investigators have blamed an oil leak from a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation or CNPC, for the contamination.

A major tap water scare has affected millions of people for a second day in Northwest China’s Gansu province.

A major tap water scare has affected millions of people for a second day in Northwest China’s Gansu province.

CNPC is China’s largest oil and gas producer and supplier. A crude oil leak from an oil transmission pipeline contaminated a source that fed a local water plant, bringing hazardous levels of benzene into the city’s tap water. Workers are now trying to find the exact location of the leak.

Tests at the water plant on Friday showed local tap water contained 160 micrograms of benzene per liter, far in excess of the 10 microgram national limit. The contamination has affected more than 2.4 million people in downtown Lanzhou.

As of Saturday morning, water supplies in two areas have resumed and according to an official report, all areas should resume water supplies by this noon. But there has been no confirmation yet. On Friday, Lanzhou residents panicked upon hearing the news, rushing to supermarkets to stock up on bottled water.

Lanzhou’s urban tap water is managed by Veolia Water. It began using activated carbon early Friday to absorb the organic matter and dilute the chemical. The local government has also taken emergency measures to ensure a safe water supply to local residents.