Liuzhou Laowai

Random thoughts on life in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China

Archive for the ‘Water Pollution’ Category

Officials Punished after Cadmium Pollution

Of course, as soon as I say I will stop posting about cadmium spillages unless something significant happens, something significant happens. It is being reported that today (Friday), that Wu Haique, head of the environmental protection bureau of the city of Hechi has been dismissed along with four other officials from the Hechi municipal and [...]

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Cadmium Leak. Cover-up or Conspiracy?

Criticism has been levelled by various people  - mostly in China Daily – about an apparent attempted cover up of the cadmium leak which led to Liuzhou’s drinking water crisis. Questions rightly being asked include “why was it not until Chinese New Year’s Eve (January 22nd) that there was any newspaper report in Liuzhou (and [...]

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Water Crisis – Friday 3 February Update

There is nothing new to report. Whether this is a good sign or not, I can’t tell. Liuzhou has stopped sending out their text messages, probably as they were becoming the same every day. The international press has been arriving in Liuzhou, usually a sure sign that the story is all but over. They are [...]

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People Buying Water – the Movie!

It is out of date, and was out of date when it was broadcast, but here is a video of people buying water. Coming next – watching paint dry.

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Water Crisis – Thursday 2 February Update

No text messages this morning, but here is a round up of the latest news. Feng Zhennian, deputy director of Guangxi’s environmental protection bureau told a press conference yesterday that  tap water from all four of  Liuzhou’s water treatment plants is safe for drinking. (I guess he means as safe as it ever was – [...]

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Water Crisis – Local Authorities Criticised

An usually critical editorial has appeared in China Daily accusing local authorities of withholding information on the cadmium pollution story for several days after the incident occurred. it is legitimate for local residents to question why local authorities withheld information about the pollution for days before telling the public. “Despite the optimism local officials have [...]

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Water Crisis – Wednesday 1 February Update

Some one got up early and tested the domestic water supply at 2 am this morning. It seems that the cadmium level of water leaving Liudong water works was less than 0.00060mg / l, while at Liunan water works it was 0.00081mg / l. The permitted maximum is 0.005mg / l. Rumours have been spreading [...]

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Water Crisis – Tuesday 31 January Update

The usual text messages sent out this morning showed no change to yesterday’s reported cadmium levels in Liuzhou tap water, which remain at 00060mg/l – well below the maximum safety level of  00060mg/l . In the meantime, it has been reported that “seven chemical plants executives who worked in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, including Jinchengjiang [...]

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Water Crisis – Monday 30 January Update

This morning, the Liuzhou emergency information service sent their now at least daily text messages informing citizens that, at 7 am today,  the detected cadmium level of water entering Liuzhou West water processing plant was 0.0022mg/l and, after treatment, water is leaving the plant with a level of <0.00060mg/l which is well within national safety [...]

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Water Crisis – Sunday 29 Update

Just after 6 pm today, the Liuzhou authorities sent out the following text message 最新水情:29日12:00时监测数据,柳江露塘断面处镉浓度为0.0044毫克每升, 柳江饮用水源水质符合国家标准(镉<=0.005毫克/升)。【代市应急指 挥部信息发布组发】 Basically, it says that the cadmium level in the river at noon today was 0.0044 mg/l, so less than the permitted maximum of  <=0.005 mg/l and less than yesterday’s 0.0049, so falls in line with what they call [...]

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