On Wed, 15 Jan 1997, Chan Wei Lik wrote:

The Akaneniichuan is canon from the series.

Somebody actually kidnapped Akane and used her as a spring-template.

Yup, I remember that one. The one thing about it was the springs are CURSED
because someone or something DROWNED in them. Since Akane is still alive,
the spring should not have been cursed in the first place.
On another note, there was once a very amusing way I thought could end the
series. Ranma and Co. reach the Cursed Springs but the Nannichuan no longer
exists. There is however, a new spring that hasn't claimed a victim
yet.....

It should be noted, that TECHNICALLY! to be 'drowned' is to get water into
your lungs, not when you die of it. It is possible then, to drown and
survive.

This is what happened to Akane in the final story arc.

Thus, a spring was created, without her dieing.