Water supply resumed to tens of thousands of people in Guangdong more than a week after it was stopped following a dangerous toxic spill in the Beijiang River, the Guangzhou Daily newspaper reported.

Normal operations resumed late Sunday at the Nanhua Waterworks, near Yingde, a city of 1 million residents in Guangdong, after the quality of water returned to normal following measures to neutralize the toxic slick, the report said.

The latest monitoring results showed that the cadmium content in the Beijiang River, near Shaoguan, had returned to normal, but more than 280 workers from the environmental protection section were still on alert to observe the water quality.

Tests carried out by the Guangdong provincial health authority showed that the quality of water had met the sanitary standards required by the State and was safe for drinking.

The Yunshan Waterworks in Yingde will soon install cadmium-control facilities to clean up the toxic content in the water. During the period of installation and adjustment, water supplies to local residents will not be suspended.

The newspaper quoted local officials as saying the reopening of the Nanhua Waterworks was not only good news for Yingde, but could also give hope to downstream cities still threatened by the spill.

Editor: Yan