Five water stations were closed in several districts in Qena governorate, Upper Egypt after the appearance of an oil spill in the Nile River, state-owned MENA reported on Wednesday.

The five water stations have been closed down as a precautionary step until the oil spill is contained.

According to a statement issued by the Water and Sewage Company in Qos on Wednesday, the 1.5 km oil spill appeared suddenly in the river with its source remaining unknown. 

The company is taking water samples from the Nile each hour until the spill is contained and the water is deemed to be safe, the statement added.

In April 2015, also in Qena, a barge carrying phosphate capsized creating a spill. According to official statements, no environmental damage resulted.

Egypt is dependent on the Nile River for its water supply.

The country's annual water quota from the Nile is 55 billion cubic metres.