Objectives To systematically analyze the measures, procedures, and effects of emergency response to water source pollution induced by the leakage of manganese slag to the upstream of Fujiang river in July, 2011, so as to provide evidence for the emergency management of water pollution in the future.

Methods The data from statistical charts, reports and meeting minutes of the Center for Disease Control, Water Affairs Group, Environmental Monitoring Station and the Municipal Government of Mianyang City were collected, and the emergency treatment measures and the dynamic change of water quality from water stations were reported by using descriptive analysis.

Results The concentrations of manganese, iron and ammonia nitrogen in water samples collected from Fujiang river at Mianyang section were beyond the normal level, which was induced by the leakage of electrolytic manganese tailings during rainstorm; the peak concentration of manganese was 29.1mg/L. A series of measures in response to the emergency of water source pollution were taken by the municipal government of Mianyang, including timely disclosing information, providing 7800 tons of cleaning drinking water to residents, controlling sources of pollution, diluting the polluted water source with more than 4000 m³ of clean water, dynamically monitoring water quality, and presenting monitoring results timely to the public. After 66 hours of treatment, the water supply was recovered and the state of emergency was lifted.

Conclusions The effective multi-sectional linkage mechanism, dynamic monitoring, information sharing, real-time information publication and multi-channel responses could be used to control the sudden, unexpected water pollution incidents quickly and effectively.