Latest news with #bitumen
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Bitumen-lined water pipe in Hong Kong to be replaced by early July: minister
The water pipe believed to have introduced black particles of bitumen into the freshwater supply at two public housing estates last month will be replaced by early July, the development minister has pledged. Advertisement Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also said on Wednesday that they had completed more than 1,500 requests from residents at Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling to flush their water meters within one to two days, and most people reported improvements in water quality and did not require follow-up. The 400-metre (1,312-foot) section of the pipe lined with bitumen, located outside the estates and connected to their freshwater pipes, would be permanently decommissioned from early July and replaced by a temporary pipe. She said the Water Supplies Department last week 'adopted an unconventional mindset' and explored the use of exposed temporary pipe to replace the pipe in question, and formulated traffic arrangements near the construction site with various departments. 'Even though the relevant locations are busy with traffic and the construction site has limited space, the Water Supplies Department will immediately commence the construction after concerted efforts,' she told the Legislative Council. Advertisement 'The department will conduct the construction around the clock. It is expected that the temporary pipe will be completed by early July, meaning that the bitumen-lined pipe will be decommissioned permanently from early July.'
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmakers push for bitumen-lined water pipe replacement and disclosure
Hong Kong authorities have been urged by lawmakers to disclose the locations of pipes lined with bitumen and to install sensors to monitor water quality after the substance was discovered in the freshwater supply at two public housing estates. The government previously stated that 700km (434 miles) of water pipes, accounting for eight per cent of the city's total water pipe network, had an inner protective coating of bitumen. Lawmaker and engineer Lo Wai-kwok on Monday said the pipes in question should be replaced as soon as possible and their locations disclosed to the public to avoid a repeat of similar incidents. 'Although we have found the source of the bitumen and installed filters, the public are still worried,' he said on a radio programme. 'I think it is alright to reveal the locations of these pipes. Having these coatings does not mean they have an urgent issue and there are new technologies which can monitor their situations. 'It is necessary for the government to be open and transparent. The public are concerned about which residential buildings are affected by these pipes.'
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong water safety scandal: what happened and how to protect yourself
Hong Kong's leader has rolled out 10 measures to address a freshwater contamination case involving banned substances dirtying the supply at two public housing estates. Advertisement The Post unpacks the water safety concerns behind the saga and how people can protect themselves. 1. What's the scandal about? Residents at two public rental and subsidised estates in Fanling first reported the presence of black particles in their drinking water on Friday last week, prompting some to buy bottled water as speculation mounted over the source of the mysterious dark specks. Government test results on Thursday confirmed that the particles found in the freshwater supply at Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling were bitumen, a substance produced through the distillation of crude oil and known for its waterproofing and adhesive properties. It has been banned from use in water pipes since 2005, but authorities have stressed that the water remains safe to consume. A resident at Queens Hill Estate in Fanling buys bottled water following concerns over water safety. Photo: Nora Tam The latest tests showed the bitumen was found to be mixed with resin, a thick substance typically produced by plants.
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Replacement work on water pipe that gave Hongkongers scare to begin this year
Hong Kong will begin replacing a 400-metre (437 yards) section of water pipe lined with bitumen this year before carrying out citywide work, as it is believed to be the source of black particles dirtying the water at two public housing estates. Advertisement Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Saturday that the government would prioritise the stretch of pipe between Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling, the only one lined with bitumen that connects the two sites. She said the city had about 700km (435 miles) of pipes lined with the substance and her bureau had told the Water Supplies Department to submit a plan to replace old ones across the city. 'To allay public concerns, particularly because of the emergence of sediment at this site, we plan to start the replacement project within this year,' Linn said. 'We have asked the Water Supplies Department to submit a plan to replace old water pipes to the Development Bureau.' Advertisement The substance has been banned from use in water pipes in the city since 2005, but authorities have stressed that the water remains safe to consume after residents voiced worries over the presence of the black particles. Linn said that bitumen-lined pipes were used internationally and posed no harm, with authorities also installing more than 1,000 filters in the water supply system.
South China Morning Post
06-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
‘Embarrassing': how Hong Kong's response to bitumen in water supply shows ‘flaws'
Hong Kong officials have faced criticism over their handling of the discovery of a banned substance in the water supply of two public housing estates, as lawmakers and experts accuse the administration of being slow to respond, failing to show accountability and lacking awareness. A veteran political analyst also called the government's response 'embarrassing', saying it undermined the city's efforts to show improvements in public welfare before an anticipated visit by a senior Beijing official. Seven days after the case of bitumen in the water supply came to light, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Friday night listed out 10 response measures for government departments to implement. The moves include setting up an expert team to trace the source of the substance and replacing the water pipes involved. But the government has yet to fully explain the presence of bitumen – a petroleum-derived substance banned from use for pipes after 2005 – in drinking water at Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling. Residents first reported finding 'mysterious dark substances' on Friday last week. 'The incident shows two major flaws of the government,' said Sonny Lo Shiu-hing, a veteran political commentator and observer of the politics of Hong Kong and Macau. 'It was slow in response and it failed to name the cause, thus it was unable to provide accountability.'
