Due to the decrease in the water level of the Yangtze River, the manganese content in the raw water has increased, prompting Chizhou, Anhui Province, to urgently issue a water suspension notice.
On December 20 at 7:44 AM, Chizhou Water Supply Company in Anhui Province issued an “Emergency Water Suspension Notice” through its official WeChat account. The notice stated that due to the recent continuous decline in the Yangtze River water level, the manganese content in the raw water has been rising. To ensure the safety of drinking water for users, the Minsheng Water Plant has suspended external water supply. The company has increased the water supply from the Jiangkou Water Plant and is implementing reduced pressure water supply in the urban area, which will affect the normal water supply for some users in the city.
In the notice, Chizhou Water Supply Company indicated that it is currently adjusting its water production process to restore supply as soon as possible, with an expectation to resume normal water supply by 6:00 PM today. The company expressed its sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused and will continue to monitor water quality issues.
Subsequently, the Chizhou Media Center also forwarded the emergency water suspension notice to the public through its official WeChat account.
Reporters from The Paper noted that exceeding manganese levels in raw water has become a significant issue faced by many water supply plants during production. If not properly addressed, it can severely impact the safety of drinking water.
According to an article published by the “Yunnan Provincial Urban Water Supply Association” on its WeChat account in February 2021, titled “Causes, Removal Methods, and Applications of Excess Manganese in Raw Water at Water Plants,” manganese is an essential trace element for the human body. Manganese accumulates in the body in the form of insoluble phosphates in important organs such as the brain and liver, primarily harming the nervous system. Trace amounts of manganese in water are generally considered harmless to humans.
The “Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water” GB5749-2006 sets the limit for manganese in treated water at 0.1 mg/L. Excess manganese in water can increase color intensity, leading to the “yellow water phenomenon.” Excessive manganese in tap water can cause stains on daily utensils and laundry, and it can affect industries such as papermaking, textiles, and dyeing. When manganese content exceeds 0.3 mg/L, it can produce an unpleasant odor in the water, severely affecting the usability and safety of drinking water.
