A chemical spill has contaminated a river in a southwestern China town since last Wednesday, disrupting water supply for some 20,000 people.

A power plant on the upper reaches of the Yuexi River in Guanyin Town of Sichuan Province polluted the water at the intake point, discharging much-than-permitted toxic pollutants into the 100-kilometer stretch around the city of Yibin, Monday's China Daily reported.

An official surnamed Liu from the environmental protection bureau of Yibin said the amount of fluoride in Yuexi River is double the standard level at present, and there are excessive levels of nitrogen and phenol in the water.

The spill was discovered on Tuesday when an employee of the local water supply company noticed water at the intake point turning yellow.

Residents have been relying on water trucked in from a town 23 kilometers away. And although the local government pressed six fire trucks into service, the supply has not been able to meet demand.

The local government activated an emergency plan -- suspending water supply in Guanyin and trucking in 20 tons of water from another town on Wednesday to provide temporary relief.

Liu could not say how much of the pollutants had flown into the river. The power plant is being investigated for the pollution.

Source: Xinhua