Property management agents who had participated in the Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme since its launch in July, 2002, had properly and regularly maintained their plumbing systems in good condition to provide value-added services to their customers.
Speaking at the scheme's certificate presentation ceremony today (August 23), the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Chan Chi-chiu, said the department had been making every endeavour to provide the people of Hong Kong with a stable and reliable water supply that met quality guidelines set by the World Health Organisation. At the same time, property owners, owners' corporations and property management agents should properly maintain their private plumbing systems to ensure high quality of tap water, thus strengthening the confidence of the public and visitors in the quality of water supply in Hong Kong.
A total of 1,714 certificates were awarded to property owners, owners' corporations and property management agents today by the Water Supplies Department in recognition of their efforts to properly maintain their fresh water plumbing systems. The awardees included not only those managing residential/commercial buildings, but also hospitals, hotels, schools, universities and public institutions.
The number of certificates presented in the ceremony was higher than the figure of 1,448 certificates presented last year. And up to the end of July, more than 470,000 households had benefited from the scheme this year.
Noting the encouraging result of the scheme, Mr Chan appealed to people to pay special attention to the importance of water quality, regular maintenance and cleaning of the water supply system in their buildings, including water pipes and storage tanks, and to be alert to the impact of water quality on public health.
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Quality of Water Supplies Professor Ho Kin-chung said the Water Suplies Department would conduct a customer opinion survey on the quality of water supplies in buildings at the end of August. The survey would comprise two parts: a random telephone survey of domestic households and a questionnaires survey of management companies by mail. The questions of the survey would include customers' satisfaction and expectation on water quality, their drinking habits, suggestions on maintenance of plumbing systems and their knowledge of and opinions on the scheme.
The voluntary scheme aimed to encourage property owners, owners' corporations and management agents, hospitals, hotels, schools, universities and public institutions to carry out regular maintenance of fresh water plumbing systems of the premises. Under the scheme, fresh water plumbing systems are required to be inspected every three months by licensed plumbers or qualified building services surveyors or engineers and confirmed to be in good condition.
All defects identified in the inspections should be promptly rectified. The water tanks also needed to be cleaned every three months and water samples taken and tested according to the recommended procedures and compliance standards at least once a year.
The certificate will remain valid for one year and can be renewed upon application, subject to consistent compliance with the prescribed requirements under the scheme.
Details of the scheme and application procedures are available on the department's website http://www.wsd.gov.hk. Information can also be obtained from the department's 24-hour enquiry hotline: 2824 5000.
Ends/Wednesday, August 23, 2006
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