Water testing 'to be introduced for Pearl River firms'

Water pollution in China's Pearl River may be combated by increased water testing of industries and spot checks.

This is according to a report by CNN, which noted that factories may be pumping contaminants directly into the water source.

The Guangzhou Water Resources Bureau is looking to boost wastewater treatment in the region before this year's Asian Games and is intending to spend $5 billion (£3.26 billion) on operations to tackle the problem.

Deputy director of the organisation Wu Xuewei said water tests and random inspections will be a part of this, which may use liquid chromatography to isolate and identify chemicals.

"If they're violating standards, we'll treat them as criminals and they'll be punished," he remarked, adding that industrial plants found to be breaking the rules will be fined, prosecuted or closed for breaching pollution limits.

A local villager named Mr Chen, commenting on the issue, told Greenpeace: "[Companies] discharge water like this everyday ... Our entire village stinks on windy days."