Residents in Taocun Town, Qixia City, Yantai, Shandong Province, were shocked to find that the tap water in their homes was continuously flowing black like “ink,” causing concern among residents who resorted to buying bottled water from supermarkets. The official announcement from local authorities further fueled skepticism among the public and was ridiculed by netizens.
On the evening of August 23 until the 24th, several netizens took to social media to report issues with the tap water in Taocun Town, Qixia City, Yantai, Shandong. Videos shared by netizens showed black water continuously gushing out from the taps. Netizens described this ink-like black water as comparable to the water in smelly drains.
One netizen exclaimed in the video, “My goodness, this water is black and stinky, even stinkier than the water in the drains. What are they trying to do, charge us for contaminated water?”
As the video circulated, netizens expressed disbelief, questioning if the water was for drinking or for writing.
On August 24, a local resident informed Jiemu News that the tap water had a foul odor, prompting some people to come sell water early in the morning, with households purchasing water for use.
On the same day, an official from Taocun Town stated that a pipeline had burst on the evening of August 23, and the water plant was under repair. The official emphasized that it was not water pollution and that “water supply was expected to resume around 8:30 pm.”
At 23:22 on the 23rd, the official public account “Zhangshang Taocun” released a notice from the water company. It mentioned that due to a sudden rupture in the water plant’s pipeline, some residents experienced turbid tap water. Normal water supply was expected to be restored around 8 pm on the 24th.
The official announcement sparked even greater discontent among residents. Some netizens pointed out the truth: after a pipe bursts, does water flow out or flow in? Even elementary school students know the answer to this question.
Blogger “610 Talk Life” remarked that the official explanation sounded plausible at first but upon closer examination, it seemed awkward. If the water pipes burst, water should flow outwards, not suddenly flow back into residents’ taps like ink. Isn’t this a matter of common sense? Real issues weren’t addressed, yet excuses were quickly provided.
He added, if it was indeed due to rust and sediment from the old pipeline flowing out due to pressure fluctuations, it could have been clearly explained, and everyone could understand. However, a vague statement like “water pipe burst” doesn’t explain why the tap water turned black and cannot mask the strange odor. This response feels more like evasion than explanation, and the concerning part is the attitude. When it comes to what goes into people’s mouths, the biggest fear isn’t temporary impurity but the lack of truth. If they honestly explained the reasons, proposed repair measures, and compensated residents for their losses, people would be more accepting.
Referencing a sarcastic comment from a netizen, “Shandong lives up to its reputation as the province of civil servants, full of ink.” However, this ink is not knowledge but rhetoric, a way to dress up problems as reasoning. This incident is not just about water; it’s a reflection of governance. How a local government responds to emergencies often reveals more about their competency than the incident itself. Blaming and evading responsibility lead to the collapse of public trust. People understand that admitting mistakes isn’t that difficult, but letting go of false dignity is. People’s livelihoods are paramount, especially water safety; covering up momentarily risks long-term trust. “Water being black isn’t scary, but a black heart is.”