The agency said more than 2,000 tons of manure from the Petrovsky state cattle farm had poured into the local River Nerl, which supplies the city with drinking water.
"The people are panicking. To drink is out of the question. You can imagine how awful the smell is," said Olga Dubrovskaya, an editor at the local television station.
"People have to go for miles to find fresh springs and wells on the outskirts of Vladimir."
Schools have closed, hospitals have set up emergency purification systems and Itar-Tass said city authorities were considering turning off the city's water supply and bringing in lorry loads of water from outside.
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