Chinese villagers assured their ‘milky’ water is fine but doubts remain
- Experts report high levels of calcium carbonate and suggest regular cleaning of affected well
- Suspicion continues that neighbouring glass factory may be to blame
Environmental authorities have assured residents of a village in northern China that pollution is not to blame for cloudy, discoloured water which has been emerging from an irrigation well for the local wheat crop since last year.
But concerns remain among the 2,600 residents of Minzhen village, Hebei province, that the “milky” water may be linked to a neighbouring industrial complex in Xingtang county.
A working group, made up of 22 representatives from local government and environmental monitoring agencies, was established on March 30, in response to media coverage, according to the Shijiazhuang Ecology and Environment Bureau.
The group’s preliminary findings on March 31 showed the water passed the underground water quality standards for IV grade water, which is classified as suitable for industrial and agricultural use, and fit for human consumption after processing.
The working group’s report – which was published, and then removed, by online publication China News – found high levels of calcium carbonate in the water, commonly known as hard water.
According to the report, carbon dioxide in the water is concentrated around the well and released as small bubbles when it is pumped, creating the discolouration, and precipitating into white calcium salt.
