To prevent worsening contamination of drinking water and major rivers, Guangzhou municipal authorities have ordered small plants that have been found to be major sources of pollution to shut down.

Meanwhile, large enterprises are being required to strictly follow discharge rules, said Chen Ying, director of the Guangdong Provincial Environmental Inspection Team, a task force investigating water problems.

Surveys indicate existing regulations have shown little effect on such enterprises.

Small plants are concentrated in fields such as paper and leather making, as well as printing and dye works.

Due to the pollution, the water supply to residents in Guangzhou has been increasingly affected, according to a water situation report released by the Guangdong Provincial Water Conservancy Bureau earlier this week. Several water sources on the city's outskirts are also contaminated.

Less rainfall

Some attribute the poorer quality of water to less rainfall and low levels of water in the three major rivers in the province -the Dongjiang, Xijiang and Beijiang, the report said.

Research conducted, however, found that heavy daily consumption and industrial pollution are responsible for the problems near two cities in the province, Dongguan and Foshan, which neighbor Guangzhou.

Municipal officials say no additional industrial projects should be approved if they are likely polluters.

Projects in neighboring cities would require co-ordination between cities.

(China Daily April 30, 2004)