Gov’t confirms water safety as Jiangmen faces tap discoloration

In neighboring Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, tap water has turned yellow, but Macau’s Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) has assured that the quality of raw water supplied to the city meets safety standards.

Since last week, several posts have appeared on the Chinese social media platform RedNote, all claiming that tap water in homes has suddenly turned yellow, with visible black impurities.

Reportedly, the water supply utilities have stated that there is no issue with water quality; instead, the discoloration in multiple areas is attributed to changes in the water source.

To ensure the safety of residents’ water supply, adjustments have been made to the water treatment process, with officials stating that “while the water color has darkened, monitoring confirms that the quality remains within acceptable limits.” Meanwhile, the authorities there noted that the city’s primary water source is the Xi River, accessed through two intake points.

Macau relies heavily on mainland China for its water supply, with over 90% of its raw water sourced from the Xijiang Modaomen Waterway. This waterway is located in Zhuhai and extends through the section of the Xi River through Jiangmen.

In response to inquiries from the Times, Marine and Water Bureau stated in an email that both mainland water authorities and the public Macao Water utilities are actively monitoring the quality of raw water supplied to Macau. Recent monitoring data indicates that “the quality of raw water supplied to Macau meets standards.”

The bureau further stated that the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) and Macao Water are monitoring the quality of tap water in line with the city’s current regulations to ensure compliance with standards. Recent water quality test results have consistently met these standards, allowing residents to use tap water with confidence.

The authorities reaffirmed that Macau has established effective regular notification and emergency communication mechanisms with relevant mainland authorities.

They stated that if any incidents occur upstream that could affect the water supply to Zhuhai and Macau, the relevant authorities will promptly inform the designated personnel of this bureau.

While highlighting its Special Contingency Plan for Water Supply Safety Emergencies, the bureau also has a year-round uninterrupted water supply safety duty and alert mechanism. “This ensures that response measures can be implemented based on the classification and severity of any water supply safety incidents, effectively addressing various water supply safety emergencies to ensure safety,” the bureau noted.

Recently, Macau has experienced a series of incidents involving contaminated bottled drinking water.

In response, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has teamed up with the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) and the Health Bureau (SSM) to inspect eight bottled drinking water plants across the city.

The inspections cover several important aspects, including the storage of raw water, drinking water treatment processes, cleanliness of packaging containers, container disinfection procedures, maintenance and cleanliness of facilities and equipment, as well as hygiene in product storage and transportation operations, as noted in their joint statement on Tuesday.