More buildings join Quality Water Recognition Scheme for Buildings (with photo)
The number of buildings awarded gold and silver certificates by the Water Supplies Department (WSD) under the Quality Water Recognition Scheme for Buildings (QWRSB) has significantly increased from some 800 last year to more than 1,300 this year.
This encouraging result indicates that all relevant parties continue to put sustainable efforts into the maintenance of fresh water plumbing systems in buildings.
The QWRSB, launched eight years ago, is a voluntary scheme that encourages property owners, owners' corporations and building management agents to regularly maintain their fresh water plumbing systems. To promote continuous participation, the WSD enhanced the scheme in 2008 by introducing three grades of certificates - gold, silver and blue - for awarded buildings. The numbers of participating buildings and certificates issued have increased over the year. At the end of July this year, the cumulative number of households benefiting from this scheme had reached 1.3 million.
At a ceremony today (August 25), the WSD presented certificates to property owners, owners' corporations, property management companies, and the management agents of hospitals, hotels, schools, universities and public institutions to acknowledge their efforts in proper maintenance of their fresh water plumbing systems.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Ma Lee-tak, said that with the support of property owners, property management companies and owners' corporations, a total of 3,190 certificates were presented this year.
"This represents a 20% increase compared with the figure last year and shows that the scheme is becoming more and more popular," Mr Ma said.
Mr Ma also spoke on the latest progress of the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS), which was launched last year.
"Sixty-five models of showerheads, the first product under the WELS, have completed registration with 51 of them awarded the most efficient Grade 1 label," he said.
Mr Ma added that the water efficiency of showerheads does not necessarily mean higher prices. Grade 1 water efficient showerheads come in a wide range of prices and the public has many choices. He also revealed that water taps would soon be included in the WELS and details would be announced next month.
Buildings joining the QWRSB have to ensure that their fresh water plumbing systems are inspected every three months by licensed plumbers or qualified building services surveyors or engineers and that the systems are confirmed to be in good condition. All defects identified in the inspections should be promptly rectified. The water tanks also need to be cleaned every three months.
Water samples are taken in accordance with the recommended procedures and tested for items specified, once a year for new applications and once every two years for renewal applications. The water samples should be taken within three months from the date of submission of the application or renewal and the test results should comply with the acceptable limits of water quality indicators.
Details of the scheme and application procedures are available on the department's website, www.wsd.gov.hk . Information can also be obtained from the department's 24-hour enquiry hotline: 2824 5000.
Ends/Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:58
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