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A chemical company in East China's Zhejiang province is being investigated on the suspicion that it discharged waste that polluted a local river and disrupted tap water supplies.

Zhejiang Jinzhili Chemicals Co Ltd in the city of Lin'an is suspected of contaminating the Tiaoxi River on Sunday with 12 pollutants, including benzene and alkene, the environmental protection bureau in the provincial capital of Hangzhou said in a statement on Wednesday.

The bureau is working with public security authorities to investigate the case, the statement said.

An environmental monitoring report issued on Wednesday morning said that no more pollutants have been detected in the Tiaoxi River, but it is unclear when local waterworks will resume operation.

The pollution has disrupted the operation of two downstream water treatment facilities and affected tap water supplies in Hangzhou's Yuhang district, which has a population of about 848,400.

The Pingyao Waterworks, which treats water from the Tiaoxi River and supplies drinking water for the nearby townships of Pingyao and Liangzhu, halted operation on Sunday and about 200,000 residents in the two towns were advised not to drink tap water until 4 pm on Thursday, because of the lack of alternative water sources.

Bottled water has sold out in many supermarkets in the two towns and the local government has sent water trucks to supply drinking water.

However, most residents have remained calm.

"Families with babies and pregnant women should be careful, but I think boiled water is safe," said a shopkeeper surnamed Zhou in Liangzhu.

More than 120 companies in Lin'an have now halted production due to water shortages.

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.