Public worries can be stirred up whenever there is negative news concerning an industry or a local project closely related to public utilities.

Recently, it was reported that an aniline spill from a chemical plant in Changzhi, Shanxi Province had affected the drainage area for about 28 villages.

Another report quoted a couple engaged in water research as saying that they had been drinking bottled water over the past two decades due to concerns over inappropriate sewage discharge in Beijing.

Some public utility projects lack transparency. Repeated environmental incidents have undermined people's confidence, and later clarifications from the authorities do little to convince the public.

Public trust can only be won through sincerity and caution. Nowadays, it is fairly easy to collect data on tap water and air quality. But many local governments haven't adopted methods to release this data on a regular basis.

Last year, the public called on environmental departments to release real-time air quality data on PM 2.5 in cities across China. After several rounds of debate, more and more cities began to publish this data.

Public utility projects are closely related to people's everyday lives, and it would help quell public worries if people could easily access data every day.

The public, rather than the government, should be the judge of trust in public utility projects. The government can assess and criticize itself, but exaggerated self-praise will only prove embarrassing.

Assessment from a third party would be ideal. Tap water enterprises can examine the quality of water and preserve the data for future production. However, the data released to the public should be monitored and published by a third-party organization.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has required tap water enterprises across the country to establish a mechanism for the release of water quality data. We suggest the ministry invite a professional, third-party organization to monitor water quality at companies in order to boost public trust.

It's also necessary to set up mechanisms to punish those responsible for related accidents. Those in charge may turn a blind eye if the cost for violating rules is too light.

When an incident occurs, related personnel within the enterprise, industrial association and government supervision department should be held responsible and punished.

The author is director of the Journalism Department of the Literature and Art School, Southwest University of Science and Technology. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn