MOSCOW, November 28 (RIA Novosti) -- Large cities like Khabarovsk should have reliable sources of water supply, Russia's Chief State Sanitary Doctor and head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare said Monday.
Gennady Onishchenko said, "Such a territory as China cannot provide us with clean water from the Songhua in any case. We must use more reliable sources of water supply for big cities like Khabarovsk."
On November 13, an explosion at a petrochemical plant in China caused about 100 metric tons of benzene to be released into the Songhua, a tributary of the Amur river. The Amur flows through the Russian city of Khabarovsk, which has a population of about 600,000.
Benzene is a carcinogenic chemical compound. It has an almond-like taste, and can cause dizziness in small amounts, and paralysis and even death in sufficiently high concentrations, the official said.
Local authorities should take emergency measures to ensure the supply of clean water to the population, Onishchenko said.
The authorities "should guarantee a daily supply of not less than 10 liters of water per person," Onishchenko said. "Besides, it is necessary to mobilize 50-60 trucks to transport water from alternative sources, including underground wells and water reservoirs that are not linked with the Amur river."
At kindergartens and schools, in an emergency situation it would be necessary to temporarily stop cooking hot food, and feed children with dry rations, he said.
