LCQ11: Water quality of swimming pools
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Question:
In recent years, there were from time to time media reports on the poor water quality of certain public and private swimming pools, which might pose threat to the health of swimmers. Regarding the water quality of swimming pools, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective water quality standards currently adopted by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for swimming pools in the public swimming pool complexes under its purview, and those adopted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) for private swimming pools; if the two sets of standards are different, of the reasons for that, and whether it has plans to align the relevant standards; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) of the methods and procedure adopted by the authorities for examining the water quality of the public swimming pools under their purview; the number of cases in the past three years in which the water quality concerned did not comply with the standards and the relevant details;
(3) whether the authorities deployed personnel in the past three years to take pool water samples from private swimming pools for examination; if so, of the details, and whether they uncovered any case in which the water quality did not comply with the standards;
(4) whether the authorities received in the past three years complaints about the water quality of public and private swimming pools; if so, of the contents of the complaints and the follow-up actions taken by the authorities; and
(5) of the criteria and procedure adopted by FEHD for instituting prosecution against the licensee of a private swimming pool the water quality of which did not comply with the standards; whether the authorities reviewed the relevant legal provisions in the past five years; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to the water quality of public and private swimming pools. At present, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is responsible for the management of public swimming pools while the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is responsible for the licensing of private swimming pools.
My reply to the question raised by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki is as follows:
(1) The FEHD licenses and regulates private swimming pools (including those operated by clubs, institutions, associations or other organisations and those serving 20 or more residential units) under the Swimming Pools Regulation (the Regulation) (Cap. 132CA). Regarding the water quality standards of private swimming pools, section 10 of the Regulation stipulates that a licensee of a private swimming pool shall maintain the water quality of the swimming pool to a standard that Escherichia coli is absent in pool water samples of 100 millilitre (ml) each and the total bacterial count does not exceed 200 bacteria per ml of pool water samples. Moreover, the licensee shall ensure that the water in the swimming pool complies with the standard of clarity (including the turbidity and colour of water) and the standard of pH value of not less than 7.0 and not more than 7.8 specified in the Regulation.
The water quality standards adopted for the public swimming pool complexes of LCSD have covered that of the private swimming pools as required under the Regulation. Besides, as there are a lot of members of the public using the public swimming pools, LCSD will further ensure the hygiene standards of pool water by increasing an appropriate amount of chlorine and conducting further testing, so as to maintain the level of residual chlorine at 1ppm to 3ppm.
(2) There is a well-developed filtration and sterilisation system in place in the 43 public swimming pools of LCSD. The water of swimming pools is continuously filtered and sterilised throughout the opening hours. Dedicated LCSD staff will take water samples from swimming pools to test the level of residual chlorine and pH value on an hourly basis. Besides, LCSD has also commissioned accredited independent laboratories to take water samples at swimming pools of different complexes for thorough testing every week to ensure the pool water is up to hygiene standards. All the water samples taken from the public swimming pools of LCSD in the past three years (2014-2016) passed the tests and were in compliance with LCSD's standards.
(3) and (5) Staff of the FEHD conduct inspections on a monthly basis and take pool water samples for bacteriological examination during the period when the private swimming pools are open for use. In addition, pool water samples are taken once a year for chemical analysis to ascertain compliance with the statutory water quality standards. In the past three years, a total of about 21 900 pool water samples were taken by the FEHD staff for bacteriological examination and chemical analysis. Results showed that about 350 pool water samples taken for bacteriological examination failed to comply with the statutory standards, while all of the samples taken for chemical analysis were found satisfactory. If the water quality of a private swimming pool is found unsatisfactory, the FEHD staff will inspect the swimming pool again and warn the swimming pool licensee to take remedial measures and improve the water quality. Pool water samples will be taken again at a later stage for re-examination of their bacterial level. The FEHD will take prosecution action against the licensee if the water samples examined still fail to comply with the statutory standards. In the past three years, the FEHD instituted four prosecutions against private swimming pools for failure to comply with the statutory bacteriological standard. The Regulation has already set out the water quality standards of private swimming pools, and can already ensure that the water quality of private swimming pools will not affect public health when the pools are open for use.
(4) LCSD received 139 complaints about the water quality of swimming pools in the past three years. These include the level of residual chlorine, clarity, salinity and cleanliness of pool water (such as sediment, insects and leaves fallen and found in pool water). LCSD would step up clearing actions, such as clearing insects, fallen leaves and other floating objects, and inspect the environmental cleanliness and water quality of the swimming pools concerned upon receipt of such complaints. LCSD would also check the test records for the level of residual chlorine and pH value as well as the water sample test reports. Follow-up water samples would also be taken to test for the level of residual chlorine level and pH value to ensure that the pool water is up to hygiene standards. The relevant works department would be asked to inspect the filtration and sterilisation system where necessary.
According to its records, the FEHD received a total of 35 complaints related to the water quality of private swimming pools in the past three years. Upon receiving complaints, the FEHD will take follow-up actions including sending staff to the swimming pools concerned to conduct inspections and issuing warnings to the swimming pool licensees in cases of non-compliance. The FEHD staff will also take water samples for examination if the situation warrants.
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:56
Issued at HKT 17:56
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