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The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (February 5) announced that the department tested 86 water samples collected from cooling towers in 75 buildings in its routine inspections in January this year. None of them was detected to have a Legionella bacteria 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.
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 January, one sample was detected to have a Legionella bacteria count at or above the upper threshold. The owner of the cooling tower has completed disinfection work. Details of this case are also set out in Annex 2.
The EMSD also announced the locations of buildings which were served with nuisance notices during the preceding three-month period as the Legionella bacteria count was found in the fresh water cooling towers to be equal to or above the upper threshold. Details 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_of_fresh_water_cooling_towers_stat/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 Water-cooled Air Conditioning Systems issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of Legionella bacteria.
Ends/Friday, February 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:00
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