Filling lake from kitchen sink

• Source: Global Times
• [02:07 December 02 2009]
• Comments

By Lin Meilian

If you look closely, you might think that a dead lake in Hubei Province looks as clear as tap water.

That's because the water in the lake is actually tap water.

Trouble is, the environmental team trying to clean up the polluted lake has been using thousands of gallons of tap water without paying for it, according to Wuhan Evening News.

In October, residents living near Baodao Park in Wuhan noticed that a clean-up crew was siphoning tap water from fire hydrants into Huanzi Lake, draining the neighborhood's water supply.

An inspection team at the Wuhan Water Group Company told the Global Times Tuesday that 50,000 tons of tap water have been misused and they are calculating how much the user should pay.

"The project team said that it aims to solve the pollution problem," said an inspection panel member surnamed Lei. "But what they have done is against the fire prevention law and has reduced the water supply in the nearby neighborhood."

Water to fight fires is saved for emergency use. Enterprises that need the water must pay for it.

A meter was installed at the construction site after the incident exposed.