The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 8) announced that the department tested 79 water samples collected from cooling towers in 37 buildings during its routine inspections in June this year. Five samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the five samples were collected in June are located at Victory Court, 185 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan; 55-57 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok; Fa Yuen Plaza, 19 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok; 94 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung and Ever Gain Centre, 28 On Muk Street, Sha Tin. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these five cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of these five cases can be found in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).
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     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

Ends/Thursday, July 8, 2021
Issued at HKT 11:47

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