Gov’t yet to announce charging criteria ahead of reclaimed water supply starting in March

Reclaimed water will be supplied to residents of the Seac Pai Van public housing estate and the University of Macau beginning March 1, with the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) stating that specific charging criteria will be announced soon and highlighting that the fee will be 15% lower than regular tap water charges.

The first phase of the Coloane reclaimed water plant has been largely completed and is currently undergoing final facility and technical testing. Susana Wong, director of DSAMA, announced that reclaimed water will officially begin supplying Coloane’s Seac Pai Van Housing Complex and the University of Macau on March 1.

Currently, reclaimed water is primarily used for household toilet flushing and landscaping.

She outlined future plans, indicating that in the medium to long term, research will focus on expanding the use of reclaimed water to large-scale facility cooling systems and landscape irrigation, aiming for reclaimed water to comprise 5% to 10% of Macau’s total water consumption.

This initiative will particularly target high-water-consumption entities, such as integrated resorts and hotels with dual-pipe systems, to broaden the application scenarios for reclaimed water. Wong noted that implementation will proceed incrementally based on infrastructure conditions, with the Cotai Strip prioritized for deployment due to fewer challenges in pipeline expansion.

Speaking to local media on Saturday, Wong stated that the supply of reclaimed water to Cotai and New Urban Zone A will be enhanced following the completion of Phase Two of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Macau Artificial Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, both scheduled to begin service in 2030, alongside upgrades to the associated sewage treatment plants.

Upon completion of Phase II of the Coloane Wastewater Treatment Plant, daily production capacity will increase from 2,500 cubic meters to 15,000 cubic meters.

The authorities clarified that reclaimed water is treated wastewater suitable for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and irrigation. After commissioning the station’s storage tanks, pump rooms, and filtration systems, daily production capacity will initially reach 2,500 cubic meters, ensuring it meets safety standards for water quality.

Macao Water will conduct daily testing and publish the results online to guarantee safety and hygiene.

The authorities said that Macau’s freshwater resources are limited, with 98% of its raw water supplied from the mainland.