Failure in the drinking water system was blamed for poisoning in northeast China's Liaoning Province, said local sources on Thursday.

The sewage pipeline was blocked and valve in the water storage pool was broken. As a result, sewage leaked into the water storage pool and caused the poisoning, according to an unnamed official with the city government of Fuxin.

Liu Jishun, general manager with the water supply company in Fuxin, was sacked for negligence while eight other officials received punishment of warning or having the misconduct recorded and kept in archives.

The accident took place last Tuesday, when residents from 2,636 households of the Gaode Huayuan Community of Taiping district in Fuxin developed symptoms like fever, vomiting and diarrhea after drinking the faucet water.

A total of 1,139 people went to see doctors, among whom 59 were hospitalized.

"They are in stable condition and recovering," said the official, without revealing how many had been discharged to date.

People in the community were provided with bottled water before Sunday, when disinfection ended and drinking water quality met an acceptable standard.

Related: Tainted water leaves thousands poisoned

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2008)