Contamination report sparks Shanghai rush for bottled water

Concern about a potential shortage of drinking water in Shanghai has sparked a scramble for bottled water, the latest frustration for the Chinese financial hub of 25 million people already worried about virus outbreaks.

Shanghai took emergency measures to secure its water supply because contamination from the sea forced authorities to cut delivery from two key reservoirs temporarily, the Beijing-based Caixin Global reported Tuesday night, citing city officials.

The Shanghai Water Authority said in a statement later that supplies for domestic and industrial uses were "stable" and it had no plan to stop or limit them. It said that some reservoirs have been affected by saltwater since early September, but provided no other details.