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The Water Supplies Department (WSD) launched the Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings - Fresh Water (Plus) today (December 27) to enhance water quality examination and further safeguard the quality of drinking water in buildings.
To encourage building owners and property management agents to maintain their plumbing systems properly, the WSD launched the voluntary Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme in 2002 and awarded certificates to recognise buildings meeting the scheme's requirements. Under the scheme, water samples are required to be taken and tested with results in compliance with the respective limits. Regular inspections of fresh water plumbing systems and cleansing of water tanks are also required to maintain the system in good condition.
In view of excessive lead content found in drinking water samples taken from some public housing estates, the WSD has formulated the following enhancement measures in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Water Resources and Quality of Water Supplies:
(a) applicants should arrange testing of four additional heavy metals, namely lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel;
(b) applicants should arrange for water samples to be taken by accredited laboratories in accordance with the WSD's standard procedures and tested by accredited laboratories for physical, chemical and bacteriological analyses;
(c) the scope of water sampling will be extended to both the communal area (known as the Basic Plan, which applies to domestic and non-domestic buildings) and the non-communal area (known as the Extended Plan, which applies to domestic buildings only) of the inside service;
(d) merits will be shown on the certificates awarded to successful applicants under the Extended Plan in recognition of their extended compliance with the prescribed criteria;
(e) the validity period of certificates for both new and renewal applications will be two years; and
(f) in addition to the current random inspections, the WSD will perform random water sampling tests in order to enhance audit checking of the applications.
Specifically, buildings joining the scheme should have their fresh water plumbing systems inspected every three months by licensed plumbers, building services engineers or building surveyors. All defects identified in the inspections should be promptly rectified. In addition, their water tanks need to be cleansed every three months. Water samples should be taken in accordance with the standard procedures and tested for specific items for both new and renewal applications. Certificates will be awarded when test results meet the acceptable limits of the water quality indicators.
Details of the enhanced scheme and application procedures are available on the WSD's website (www.wsd.gov.hk), via the department's 24-hour enquiry hotline at 2824 5000, or by emailing wsdinfo@wsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Sunday, December 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:01
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