Citizens push for regulation to govern secondary water supply

Mr Chiang Chong Fai, People’s Alliance

In light of Hong Kong’s high-profile discovery of lead-contaminated drinking water followed by the local government’s response of testing the water quality in public housing, the civil group Macau Institution of People’s Alliance yesterday explored in its regular forum the necessity of introducing specific regulations targeting the secondary water supply in the region.
Given that the existing law governing water supply does not cover the water quality inside of either public or private buildings, guest speaker Chiang Chong Fai, who presides over the Macao Association of Consumers of Public Utility Companies, told media that many citizens believe that the government has a vital role in overseeing the region’s water supply into the future.
“Everyone’d be so delighted to see the tap water at home up to scratch,” he said. “Yet is such a thing possible?”
The authorities have previously explained that their limited manpower makes it impossible to address such demands, which require additional resources for the considerable workload involved therein. Chiang accepted these reasons, yet expressed his desire to see official guidelines come out to instruct locals on how to maintain their own water supplies.

Mr Chu Wai Man, Macao Water

“How can the government guarantee the water coming from household faucets has passed the standards in light of its capabilities?” he questioned. “Yet does this mean the authorities don’t have to take care of the water quality therein?”
The president noted that the prevalent concerns among those who had no idea of quality standards and inspections prior to the incident in Hong Kong were always regarding a lack of support from the government, which he thought should take the initiative to offer assistance.
Regarding whether or not the materials used for the region’s underground water pipelines might taint the water they carry, Chu Wai Man, Deputy General Manager from Macao Water, said that the pipes adopted in the region were “durable” and “secure” enough, having a lifespan of at least 50 years, except when damaged due to external factors.
In addition, he assured the public of the water quality in the territory by explaining that every day inspections would be randomly carried out across the city at approximately 90 locations to ensure a high water quality standard.
The majority of the existing pipeline network was said to still be usable, even though it had not undergone any renovations since 1982, three years before the utility company was granted a 25-year concession.
Chu also said that the water company has already diverted some of the pipeline renovation roadworks away from bustling avenues to avoid traffic chaos that might ensue. Staff reporter