The water supply for 800,000 people in a central China city has been disrupted since Wednesday morning after a pipe burst, forcing a water plant to stop operations, local authorities said.

Pipe burst disrupts water supply for 800,000 in Zhengzhou

A major water pipe near Shiyuan water plant burst in Zhengzhou City, capital of Henan Province.

The plant had to suspend operations to prevent water flowing back and contaminating its reservoirs, said a spokesman for the plant.

The water supply for southwest Zhengzhou, where about 800,000 people live, was disrupted after the water plant, Zhengzhou's largest, stopped operations, he said.

Water flow from the pipe was brought under control at 11 a.m. But it would take about 72 hours to fix the pipe. More than 40 people have joined the repair work, the spokesman said.

Zhengzhou's municipal government has mobilized 14 water transport vehicles to distribute water to affected residents.