WSD finds leaded solders in inside service of a building during inspection of replumbing works

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     A spokesman for the Water Supplies Department (WSD) said today (April 11) that lead checks were conducted by the WSD at the soldering joints of the inside service during inspection of replumbing works for a residential building in Sham Shui Po yesterday (April 10). Preliminary results revealed that the soldering material contained lead. The works involved replacement of a 10-metre communal pipe of the inside service of the building and were unrelated to the pipes of individual units.

     The WSD immediately collected water samples from the building (including residential units on the upper floors and two commercial units on the ground floor). The results showed that the lead levels of all the samples complied with the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. The department has requested the related licensed plumber to replace non-compliant materials and notified the related owners' corporation for notification to the residential and commercial tenants.

     It was the first suspected case of using leaded solders in plumbing works of inside service of residential buildings the WSD has identified since it started to conduct non-destructive tests on solder joints of inside service in August 2015.

     "We are conducting an in-depth investigation on this suspected case of violation. If any person is found to have violated the Waterworks Ordinance, we will take actions according to the Ordinance, including prosecution, cancellation or suspension of the plumber's license of the licensed plumber concerned. In addition, we will conduct comprehensive inspections on all similar replumbing works that involve the inside service of residential buildings. We have also urged plumbing practitioners not to use leaded solders in new plumbing installation or replumbing works of inside service. We will follow-up on all cases of violation seriously in accordance with the Ordinance," said the spokesman.

Ends/Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Issued at HKT 23:33

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