Residents in a county in Central China are continuing to drink water from mountain springs, ignoring government claims that their tap water meets national standards, the People's Daily has reported.

The spring water, sold for 3 yuan (16 cents) for a 25 kg barrel, is very popular in Pingjiang county, Changshou township in Hunan province.

Residents refuse to use tap water because they fear it was polluted by a gold mine upstream of a river, the paper said.

Late last month, the county's environmental protection bureau said in a report that the water quality of the local water plant "met national standards".

But the report failed to soothe public concerns.

Experts said the public doubts are a result of a lack of governmental credibility.

"The government should further build its credibility and boost the publication of information," said He Peiyu, deputy head of the Hunan Academy of Social Sciences.

Only with positive communication can the public trust and recognize the government, he said.