China officials 'faked water tests with bottled water'
- Published
The officials reportedly faked the data by using bottled water instead of river water
China is sending investigators to Hunan province after local officials were accused of faking data at a water monitoring station, state media report.
The officials are alleged to have placed sensors intended to measure the water quality of Lujiang River inside bottles of mineral water instead.
The river, in Zhuzhou, is badly polluted by sewage water, reports say.
There is widespread suspicion that some local officials and companies in China ignore environmental policies.
The environment ministry says it is investigating in Zhuzhou and "will seriously punish" any "violations".
One monitoring sensor was even placed in a cup of tea instead of the Lujiang River, Xinhua news agency says.
, China Daily reports.
The Chinese government has vowed to improve its efforts to monitor and combat pollution - but there continues to be concern about air and water quality in China.
In 2016, one government report said .
Meanwhile, a separate 2017 government survey found .
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