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Safeguarding
Potable Water Quality
Over the past few years, we have made good progress in re-plumbing our housing
blocks to prevent discolouration of tap water.
In 2003 / 04, we continued to implement our Replumbing Programme to replace
poor condition galvanized steel potable water supply pipes with copper and
ductile iron pipes. We undertook plumbing condition surveys and water tests
to assess the condition of existing pipe-work before decisions on re-plumbing
were made. During the year, we completed re-plumbing works in 47 rental
blocks.
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Fresh Water
Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme
Launched by the Water Supplies Department two years ago, the scheme encouraged
building owners to maintain their plumbing system to ensure good quality
water supply for users. We joined the scheme in early 2004 with an aim of
gaining certification for our 1 000 rental blocks. The scheme accreditation
signifies that we have, as we always did, maintained our plumbing system
in a proper manner and have consistently kept the level of maintenance to
a high standard. Joining the scheme will provide a third-party guarantee
and certification of our maintenance quality.
The scheme requires building owners to regularly clean the water tanks and inspect the plumbing system at least once every three months as well as test water samples at least once a year. We have all along been continuously carrying out regular checking and maintenance of the plumbing system of rental blocks to ensure good quality water supply for our clients.
In 2003 / 04, 99 housing blocks of our estates were certified under the scheme. We plan to achieve certification of all rental blocks by 2006.
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Reducing
Water Wastage
Water is essential for life and so we always have
a primary goal to protect and conserve water resources. In the past year,
we continued our effort to reduce water wastage in our housing blocks and
construction sites. We have installed self-stopping water taps for reducing
potable water consumption in commercial centres and markets in our public
housing estates. Some of our major achievements are highlighted below:
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All of our construction sites involving large diameter
bored piling works now adopt water recycling facilities to minimize
wastewater. |
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We launched a trial scheme at our Ho Man Tin Headquarters on saving toilet flushing water. The installation of dual-flush fittings in female toilets was completed in February 2004, and performance monitoring is in progress. Water savings studies on the use of dual flush toilets and water saving taps will continue in 2004 / 05. |
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To further conserve potable water, we continue to research
water saving devices for use in our commercial centres and public
housing estate markets. We aim to complete our research in the first
quarter of 2005. |
In 2003 / 04, although we made improvements in advancing water conservation, we were not able to achieve our target of a 0.5% reduction in potable water consumption for our estate management work. Instead, we recorded a 27% increase due to the necessary demand for cleaning to deal with the twin threats of SARS and Avian Influenza. However, we are looking forward to a reduction in water consumption in 2004 / 05.
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