People in Harbin rushed to supermarkets for canned drinking water.

    HARBIN, Nov. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The government of Heilongjiang province is taking efforts to expand water supply for its capital city, to cope with water shortage after the temporary water supply suspension for the fear of possible river pollution, the provincial government announced here Tuesday.

    The provincial government has taken substantial measures to tackle emergency problems caused by the acute water shortage, said Zhang Zuoji, provincial governor, while addressing the provincial meeting concerning temporary water stoppage.

    More than 16,000 tons of bottled water is being transported to Harbin, from adjacent cities and provinces, said Shen Liguo, vice provincial governor, when listing the province's detailed measures.

    Meanwhile, the city government of Harbin also boosted local factories' bottled water production, said Shi Wenqing, vice mayor of Harbin, noting that the daily maximum water production of thesefactories could amount to 2,500 tons.

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::::::	Harbin takes emergency measures to ease water shortage

    Shi said Harbin will also tap the city's groundwater as the number of wells in the city had reached 918, with a daily water supply of 32,000 tons. The city will also approve the proper excavation of groundwater wells, Shi added.

People in Harbin store up water by basins to cope with the water stoppage.

    For the emergency use of water, fire engines and watering cartsfor water transport have been gathered, Shi said, adding the one-time water transferring volume can reach 175 tons.

    Three to five water supply venues will be set up to provide water of par value in each of the city's districts to avoid some vendors' speculation of water on the market, Shi said. Meanwhile the municipal government has ordered all bathhouses and car-wash facilities to suspend operation.

    As for the possible river contamination, a 24-hour inspection of water has been launched, from 18 km up the Harbin segment of the Songhua River.

    The Harbin municipal government has said in three separate statements in the past two days that the local water supply will be cut off for the fear that the blast of a chemical plant in the neighboring Jilin province could cause a leakage of poisonous substances into the Songhua River, the source of water supply for the city. Enditem