The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (October 8) announced that the department tested 114 water samples collected from cooling towers in 63 buildings in its routine inspections in September 2024. 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 samples were collected are located at 25 South Wall Road, Kowloon City; Hoi Pa Building, 6 Hoi Pa Street, Tsuen Wan; 290-292 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan; Ming Sau Building, 91A Chun Yeung Street, Eastern; and Prosperous Commercial Building, 54-58 Jardine's Bazaar, Wan Chai. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring that appropriate disinfection work 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.

     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 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/Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Issued at HKT 14:06

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