About 900 households in Shanghai's suburban Minhang District have had polluted tap water for about two months due to accumulated grime in the pipes.

Residents in Lane 1508 Caobao Road have had smelly tap water that contained particles and appeared reddish. The problem became so serious in the lane's No. 78 building that the community's neighborhood committee had to send two 18.9-liter jugs of water to each household in the building every day.

The lane's property office said Sunday that the pipes would be replaced if the latest water quality test showed it was still polluted. The office said they had made an agreement with the city's water supplier after a discussion on Sunday.

The Shanghai Water Authority is expected to release the latest water quality test results this week.

A resident surnamed Ye said the pollution was first noticed in the community two months ago when a strange smell was detected. Over the next month the smell worsened.

Ye said the district's disease control and prevention center and the health inspection authorities in the Gumei area found the water "failed" tests.

The office said the water supplier had already washed the pipes and that the problem became more serious afterwards.

Residents in the No. 67, 68, 78 and 114 buildings had found particles in their tap water.

The property office said the water in the No. 67, 68 and 78 buildings was from the same pipe. The substances found in the water was normal after pipes were cleaned and "should disappear in a day or two." The problem in the No. 114 building was not explained.

(Shanghai Daily July 12, 2010)