Water and electricity supply reestablished, with exceptions

Susana Wong

Both the water and electricity supply have been reestablished to almost everyone, according to information provided by persons responsible for both utilities in a joint press conference, where an evaluation was given on the current status after the passage of typhoons Hato and Pakhar.

Regarding the water supply, Susana Wong, director of the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) informed, “Almost all Macau is back to normal [in terms of supply]. Nevertheless there are 25 buildings with problems.” She added that Macao Water services are following up and dealing with these cases individually.

For those residents that are still without water supply, Wong said the bureau will provide help through tanker trucks.

The head of DSAMA also informed that four swimming pool facilities have already reopened their shower rooms to the public in order to provide assistance with personal hygiene.

As for electricity, the head of the Office for the Development of the Energy Sector (GDSE), Hoi Chi Leong, said that the latest typhoon, Pakhar, “didn’t cause any important damage to be reported.” He noted that the supply of energy from CEM should be reaching virtually 100 percent of the population, with exceptions in “particular cases” where the problems affecting certain buildings were due to the buildings’ own wiring system, which in specific cases were damaged and not yet able to be repaired.

According to information provided to the Times by in-field staff, such problems stem from “specific parts” that are different than those commonly in use by most of Macau’s systems and had to be ordered from abroad, which explains such a delay.

The city experienced a cut-off in the supply of both electricity and water after Typhoon Hato struck the territory last Wednesday. It took several days for the water supply to be restored for most of the population.