PRAGUE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The concentration of uranium in drinking water in Czech Republic's Mesto Libava town, which was part of the Libava army training ground, was found excessive, authorities said Friday.
Jana Zechmeisterova from the press department of Czech Defense Ministry said that it is not known at the moment why the uranium got into the water, and the situation will be dealt with immediately after the results of a thorough analysis are known.
Zechmeisterova said the military is trying to determine the cause of the higher concentration, and plans to adjust the water treatment technology that would remove the uranium from the water.
She added that children and pregnant women should not drink the water.
Deputy Mayor Jiri Ondrejka said substitute drinking water supplies have been secured in the town, with bottled water being delivered to the inhabitants and water cisterns installed in school kitchens.
Before 1989, there were 2,500 Soviet soldiers stayed in the Libava military training ground permanently, and regular military exercises were held in the area.
After the withdrawal of the army in the early 1990s, a huge amount of unexploded ordnance was left and the soil was contaminated with oil products. The liquidation of the environmental burden lasted several years.
