Pekalongan river heavily polluted

PEKALONGAN, Central Java: Thousands of people living along the Banger River can no longer use its water because it is so heavily polluted.

They reported that the water has turned dark because of industrial waste.

"Residents now have problems finding clean water for daily consumption," Darsono, a resident of Sentono village, told Antara.

He said people have to fetch water from neighboring villages or buy it from vendors for drinking.

Villagers say that more and more factories have been dumping their industrial waste directly into the river.

At least three rivers in Pekalongan are now heavily polluted. In some areas people have reported skin rashes after bathing in the river, Antara reported. (pan)