Shanghai is being hit by a new wave of salt tide that affected normal water supply in some districts of the metropolis, the government said Saturday.

 

The tide, the second since summer began, started on Monday at the mouth of the Yangtze River and is predicted to last over a week, a spokesman with the municipal government information service said.

 

Although measures have been taken, the spokesman said citizens in some districts may still find insufficient tap water supply in certain hours and the water may not taste as good as usual.

 

The government asked for understanding from water-users and hopes everyone would avoid wasting water.

 

The spokesman said the government will not impose restrictions for water use as the impact of salt tide is not beyond control.

 

The salt tide takes place at the mouth of the Yangtze River every winter or early spring, when water flowing from the river decreases, causing chloride level to rise and even exceed the national standard.

 

Low water levels have been reported in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River due to rare drought this year. As a result, the salt tide happened at least two months earlier than previous years.

 

The first salt tide hit Shanghai on Sept. 11 and lasted five days. Water supply for Shanghai, a city of 17 million population, remained normal.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2006)