The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (October 9) announced that the department tested 114 water samples collected from cooling towers in 59 buildings in its routine inspections in September this year. Seven 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 seven samples were collected are located at Hart Avenue Plaza, 5-9 Hart Avenue, Yau Tsim Mong; Kam Long Building, 41-59 Tai Tong Road, Yuen Long; 100 Texaco Road, Tsuen Wan; 30 Nga Tsin Long Road, Kowloon City and 244 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po. 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 cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of the cases can be found in Annex 2.

     Apart from carrying out routine surveillance inspections, the EMSD assists the Centre for Health Protection in collecting water samples for testing for epidemiological investigation of Legionnaires' disease. In September, one sample was detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold. The owner of the cooling tower has completed the disinfection work. Details of this case can also 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).

     The EMSD reminds 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/Monday, October 9, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:19

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