EMSD announces latest sampling results for Legionella bacteria at fresh water cooling towers
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     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 8) announced that the department tested 82 water samples collected from cooling towers in 73 buildings in June this year. Six samples were detected to have a Legionella bacteria count (LBC) at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers of the six cases in June are located at 5-11 Thomson Road, Wan Chai; Yee Hing Building, 13-19 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay; Freder Center, 3 Mok Cheong Street, To Kwa Wan; Hong Ning Building, 5 Mut Wah Street, Kwun Tong; and two cooling towers at Fung Yu House, Sam Shing Estate, Tuen Mun. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of these cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be taken. Among them, disinfection of the cooling towers at 5-11 Thomson Road, Wan Chai; Yee Hing Building, Causeway Bay; Hong Ning Building, Kwun Tong; and two cases at Fung Yu House, Sam Shing Estate, Tuen Mun, has already been completed by the owners. Disinfection in the remaining case at Freder Center, To Kwa Wan, is being arranged by the owner. Details of these six cases and the locations of buildings which were served with nuisance notices during the preceding three-month period as the LBC was found in the fresh water cooling towers to be equal to or above the upper threshold are set out in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/oa_ct_stat.shtml).

     The EMSD reminds fresh water cooling tower owners that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality of their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Water-cooled Air Conditioning Systems issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of Legionella bacteria.

Ends/Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:00

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