Premier Yu Shyi-kun instructed the Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday to step up security and patrols at water catchment areas around the country to prevent water supplies from being endangered.
Yu also instructed the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to hasten its efforts on water examination in reservoirs nationwide, in an effort to secure safe supplies of clean water.
The premier issued the directives one day after a feeder river leading to a reservoir on the island of Kinmen was found to have been contaminated with rat poison.
Fortunately, water samples collected from Kuangchien Creek were analyzed and determined yesterday by the EPA to be poison-free and safe for use.
Six bottles of sample water taken from the creek, which supplies water to residents on the island, were rushed to Taiwan by Kinmen Water (KW) officials Tuesday to determine whether the water had been contaminated.
The water samples were taken after a Kinmen resident on Monday discovered bags of Fumieshu -- an organofluorine compound used by farmers to kill mice -- that had been dumped in the water. He notified KW authorities, who determined that a total of 87 bags had been dumped, including two 5kg bags and 85 smaller bags.
Pointing out that the poison was past its expiration date, that it is insoluble in water and that it had not yet reached the reservoir area due to the dry season, the KW officials said the water supplied by the reservoir is safe for use.
Although the reservoir had not been contaminated, KW officials have still decided to clean the upstream area to allay the concerns of Kinmen residents.
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