The water supply to hundreds of households in northern Shanghai returned to normal today as a salt tide that affected supplies the past few days began to ebb.

The salt tide was created by reduced water flow in the Yangtze River, allowing sea water to push into the mouth of the Yangtze. Water plants dependant on the Yangtze were thus experiencing shortages, water suppliers said today.

The shortage of fresh water produced insufficient pipeline pressure in distribution networks from Monday, reducing supplies to several residential areas in Hongkou and Baoshan districts.

``It mostly happened to apartments above the third floor in these buildings, where it was difficult for the pumps to send water to tanks higher up,'' said Li Chunhui, a spokesman for Shanghai Shibei Waterworks Co.

Usually apartments on the third floor or below have water pumped directly to their homes. For those above the third floor, water tanks are placed on top of the building and water is pumped to the tank.

(Shanghai Daily January 31, 2008)