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Water sampling tests for 13 public rental housing (PRH) estates completed before 2005 have been completed. All data met the World Health Organization (WHO)'s guideline value for lead in drinking water.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced on July 24 that water sampling tests would be conducted for all PRH estates. The Housing Department (HD) and the Water Supplies Department (WSD) would conduct systematic water sampling tests for PRH developments completed in and after 2005 first, after which consideration would be given to how to conduct water sampling tests for PRH estates completed before 2005, based on experience and data.
A spokesman for HD said today (October 22), "On September 24, we announced that systematic water sampling tests for PRH developments completed in and after 2005 had been completed. As the preliminary findings of WSD's Task Force have confirmed that leaded solder joints are the source of excessive lead in drinking water in PRH estates, and that in general, PRH estates completed before 2005 did not use soldering in water pipe connections, the risk of excessive lead in drinking water in these estates is lower."
In addition, during the water sampling and testing exercise for PRH estates completed in and after 2005, nine estates that did not use soldering were covered; and at the same time, 17 estates completed before 2005 were also selected for testing for lead. Test results showed that all samples taken met the WHO's guideline value.
"However, to ease residents' concerns, we have decided to adopt an objective and representative screening method, for determining the drinking water quality of PRH estates completed before 2005 within a shorter timeframe. The HA Chairman already explained on October 8 and 14 that HD and WSD would adopt a two-step approach in conducting water sampling tests for the 143 PRH estates completed before 2005 by batches. First of all, HD and WSD would conduct a representative screening for these estates by batches. Depending on the size of the estates, we will select several blocks from each of them, and take water samples from each of the selected blocks. If individual estates are found to have water samples containing excessive lead content in the first stage, we will conduct systematic water sampling tests for each block within that estate, covering every independent fresh water supply system located within each block, to determine the overall lead content in the drinking water of that estate," the spokesman said.
HD and WSD are now conducting water sampling tests for PRH estates completed before 2005 by batches, in accordance with the above approach. The results announced today cover 13 PRH estates involving 308 water samples. Water test results of 54 PRH estates completed before 2005 have been announced so far. All samples were taken from the fresh water supply systems installed by HA, and all of them met the WHO's guideline limit (see Annex). HA will continue with this exercise and aim to complete it before the end of the year.
Ends/Thursday, October 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:07
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