Local water consumption rises

Kuan Sio Peng

The supply demands of large-scale entertainment facilities and infrastructure construction projects has led to an increase in water consumption by 1.7 percent over the last year, stated Macao Water executive director, Kuan Sio Peng, at a media luncheon yesterday held in honor of the Chinese New Year (CNY).
During her speech at the luncheon, Kuan said that 2015 “was a year of significance for Macao Water,” as it marked the 80th anniversary of the modernization of the region’s local water supply.
It was also a significant year because the newly constructed MSR III Water Treatment Plant commenced operations in September. This has increased local water production from 330,000 cubic meters per day to a total capacity of 390,000 per day.
“[This] is sufficient to cope with the development needs [of Macau] for the next five to 10 years,” Kuan said, especially as a fourth water treatment plant is scheduled to commence construction this year.
The fourth plant will be based in Seac Pai Van to secure the supply of water to Taipa and Coloane, in conjunction with a fourth raw-water pipe co-constructed by Macau and Guangdong authorities.
According to an agreement signed between the two local authorities in November, the Macau government will pick up the estimated RMB528 million tab for the project, while Zhuhai authorities will oversee its construction and future maintenance.
“We are endeavoring to commence the construction of phase one by the end of this year and aim to put it into operation in 2019,” said Kuan. “By then, there will be raw-water pipes connecting [the] mainland and Macau, which stabilizes local water supply services and lays a solid foundation for the future development of Macau.”
The executive director also said that last year’s water fee adjustment has “effectively eased the pressure on our operation,” despite Macau’s slowdown in economic growth. In 2015 the government agreed to increase the subsidy to Macao Water by 4.28 percent to MOP5.12 per cubic meter of water in order to compensate for inflationary changes in the cost of supplying water. Staff reporter