HARBIN, Dec. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Subfreezing temperature slows down the speed of the pollution stretch on northeast China's Songhua River but the pollutant density still keeps high, said the Environmental Protection Bureau of Heilongjiang Province in a news release Thursday.

　　The river is now frozen over in parts and this is slowing the passing of the chemicals, chiefly composed of nitrobenzene.

　　As of Thursday afternoon, the 150-km pollution stretch was lingering near the Tonghe County.

　　The peak of pollution stretch was detected close to the Mulan monitoring post with the nitrobenzene density 27.47 times above the standard at 4:00 a.m. Thursday.

　　Meanwhile, the Tonghe monitoring post at the lower reach of the river reported a nitrobenzene density of 0.1548 milligrams as of 8:00 a.m. Thursday, about 8.11 times above the standard, which shows a growing trend.

　　The stretch is expected to reach the Dalianhe Township of the Yilan County at 2:00 a.m. Saturday and will arrive at Jaimusi, the second largest city at Songhua River's lower reach on Dec. 6.

　　The government of Yilan County has shut down all the water gathering channels from the Songhua River and keeps on a strict polluted water disposal in the large enterprises which still have to use the water from the polluted river.

　　The county government asked all the residents of the Dalianhe Township to store water for five to seven days, for fear the water supply may be cut off when the pollution belt passes by.

　　The county government has also taken emergency measures to ensure water supply of 3,500 tons every day to the township, where more than two thirds of the residents take drinking water from the Songhua River.

　　Li Yizhong, head of the National Bureau of Production Safety Supervision Administration, arrived at Jiamusi on Thursday to examine the city's prevention and preparation work against the incoming pollution stretch.

　　The official affirmed the achievements the riparian cities of Songhua River have made during the past days, but stressing that "it is merely a temporary triumph over the pollution."

　　He said the government must clearly see that the situation is still very serious for the cities at the lower reach of Songhua River with a stretching pollution belt and the still high pollutant density.

　　The water pollution was caused by a chemical plant blast on November 13 in neighboring Jilin Province, resulting in serious leakage of poisonous substances into the Songhua River.

　　Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang with Songhua River as its main water supply source, enforced a four-day suspension of water supply since November 24.

　　Currently, the water supply in Harbin has resumed and the water quality of all its water supply stations have reached the national standard. Enditem