Nearly 50 enterprises in Zhangjiagang of Jiangsu province were inspected for illegal pollutant emissions on the evening of September 27.

The inspection was carried out by the environmental protection department of the government and directed by Shao Junmin, vice-mayor of the city.

At a drain well near Jinhaochun aluminum company, inspectors found the company had connected a firefighting pipeline into the well to dilute discharged waste water. After testing, inspectors found the water tainted with alkaline, which has corrosive effects.

The enterprise was ordered to stop operations. Only after it improves its sewage disposal system to meet local standards can the enterprise open again.

The inspections focused on sewage disposal, high energy, chemical and water consumption factories built beside the Yangtze River.

Tao Donghui, an inspector at the environmental protection department, said some enterprises refuse to adhere to regulations in the evening, which could harm the environment. They carried out the inspection hoping to give the enterprises a warning.