Hangzhou’s Yuhang District issues preliminary findings on tap-water odor investigation, apologizes for inconvenience to residents

Preliminary findings indicate that the unusual odor in the tap water in some subdistricts of Yuhang District in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, was caused by sulfur-ether compounds produced by the anaerobic degradation of algae under specific natural and climatic conditions, the district government said in a statement on Saturday, apologizing to local residents for the inconvenience.
 
At 8:00 am Wednesday, Renhe Water Plant detected an unusual odor in its supply. Upon confirming the anomaly through tests, the plant immediately activated its emergency contingency plan, switching to an alternate source. Since then, water quality has been closely monitored and all output has met safety standards, according to the release. 
 
According to media reports, starting from Wednesday morning, some areas in Renhe street and Liangzhu street of Yuhang district in Hangzhou experienced a noticeable odor in the tap water. The issue persisted for nearly 15 hours, and as late as around midnight, residents in several communities were still reporting foul-smelling water in their homes.
 
An investigation was launched at once, and a team of national and provincial experts was convened. Preliminary findings indicate that the odor was caused by sulfur-ether compounds produced by the anaerobic degradation of algae under specific natural and climatic conditions. Further trace-source investigations are ongoing, and results will be released as they are available, according to the district release. 
 
The statement also noted that police have taken legal action against those spreading online rumors that the water was “sewage,” and urged the public not to believe or share unverified information.
 
“We deeply apologize for the impact and inconvenience this incident has caused and will continue to strengthen management measures to ensure the safety of the water supply,” said the district government.