Taking a bath has become something of a luxury for Zhu
Jiang.
The day before yesterday, for example, the 29-year-old bachelor
was prevented from carrying out his normal ablutions because the
local water pipes froze, cutting off the supply to everyone in his
neighborhood in the Wuchang district of Wuhan, capital of Hubei
province.
"When I arrived at home at about 11:30 PM, there was no water in
the taps for drinking, let alone for a bath," he said.
"I had to spend the night in a nearby hotel, which cost me 330
yuan ($42)."
To Zhu's delight, the water supply to his apartment was switched
back on yesterday.
He was told workers had worked through the night to repair the
pipes.
Since Jan 12, thousands of Wuhan residents have experienced
similar difficulties due to the heaviest snowfall to hit the city
in 54 years.
The government is doing its utmost to help residents, officials
said. Almost 80 percent of the 23,000 supply problems reported by
residents had been resolved as of 1 pm yesterday, local authorities
said.
The government has also mobilized 90,000 workers and 22,000
vehicles to repair the water supply network.
Wu Yuannan, a local government official, told China
Daily he has been without water at his apartment for two
weeks, but kind neighbors have been helping out.
Some residents who have water stored in their homes have put up
notices on their doors offering less-fortunate people much-needed
supplies.
"We are all in the same boat," Wu said.
(China Daily January 31, 2008)
