Tuen Mun District Councillor denounces Housing Department "losing contact" when working from home and coordinating water pipes

With the aging of old water pipes, bursting water pipes have occurred from time to time in various districts in Hong Kong. In the past year, Tuen Mun has experienced frequent leakage and bursting of underground water pipes. , I hope that all departments can coordinate more to deal with emergencies, and re-examine the potential risks of water pipes for early maintenance.

In response, the Water Supplies Department will refer to the age of the water pipes, the severity of the tragic leakage record, and the scope of impact in accordance with the risk-based management policy, so as to prioritize the treatment of the relevant water pipes.

Burst water pipes occur from time to time in various districts of Hong Kong. In the past year, there have been leaks and bursts of underground water pipes in Tuen Mun.

Some district councillors believe that emergency repairs are often carried out only after the incident occurs to treat the symptoms rather than the root cause. They hope that various departments can coordinate more in dealing with emergencies and review the potential risks of various water pipes for earlier repairs.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

The relevant documents were put forward by Leung Ho-man, a member of the Tuen Mun District. He mainly made enquiries on three aspects: the coverage of underground water pipe accidents and the water pipe replacement plan, the main causes of water pipe bursts in the district, and the arrangement of emergency repair workers by maintenance contractors.

Leung Ho-man mentioned that the authorities implemented the "Water Mains Replacement and Repair Scheme" in 2000. Although the overall situation of water mains leakage and bursting has improved, the number of water mains bursting cases has been involved in recent years, reflecting the lack of pertinence and accuracy in the coverage of the relevant scheme. sex.

According to a written submission from the WSD, the number of unplanned and corrosion-caused burst pipes and leaks more than doubled.

In this regard, Leung Ho-man believes that there is a need for a comprehensive assessment of the water pipes in the district.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Corrosion-induced leakage or bursting of water pipes not included in the Water Mains Replacement and Repair Scheme

Leung Ho-man said that according to the "Director of Audit Report No. 77", 105 cases of bursting salt water pipes were recorded between 2018 and 2021, of which 70% were caused by corrosion of water pipes, and only 13% of the cases were caused by external sources. Interference, reflecting that the corrosion of water pipes is the main cause of leakage and bursting of water pipes.

According to the written documents submitted by the Water Supplies Department, in the past 4 years from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2022, the water pipes were not included in the "Replacement and Repair of Water Mains Plan" and the water mains burst or leaked due to corrosion The number of cases was 761, which was 2.17 times more than the 240 cases of water pipes that had been included in the relevant scheme and had been rehabilitated, but were still bursting or leaking due to corrosion.

Tuen Mun District Councilor Kong Fung-yi mentioned the water pipe burst in On Ting Village in March.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Housing Department's work-from-home approach fails to coordinate the aftermath of a burst water pipe

Tuen Mun District Councillor Jiang Fengyi mentioned the water pipe burst in On Ting Village in March this year. At that time, the water pipe of Heung Sze Hui Road at the entrance of On Ting Village burst, affecting residents' access. According to regulations, the Housing Department must be present for coordination. However, during the epidemic The Housing Department has implemented work-from-home operations. It was unable to immediately contact the relevant staff to deal with it. Ultimately, the police will coordinate and handle road closures and diversions.

Jiang said that the road section is described as a black spot, and similar incidents will occur every 2 to 3 years. As a result, "it has become a sea." It takes 2 to 3 days for repairs to be completed each time. The diversion will also cause inconvenience to the residents. I hope The Water Supplies Department was able to find the cause of the frequent bursts.

Lin Songhua said that whenever there is a problem with a water pipe, there are many departments involved, and coordination between departments is very important. For example, it is extremely difficult for members to intervene.

Of course, the Housing Department plays an important role. However, it is often difficult to find help from the HD staff after a water pipe burst occurs. We hope that the situation will improve in the future. Among them, the Water Supplies Department’s update of the water pipe plans is the top priority: “Sometimes the People can’t turn off the water switch for half an hour.” In addition, Lin pointed out that the areas around Castle Peak Road, Heung Sze Hui Road and Butterfly Bay are black spots with burst water pipes, and suggested that relevant departments pay more attention.

Lin Chung-wah said that whenever there is a problem with a water pipe, there are many departments involved, and attention should be paid to the contingency measures. Coordination between departments is very important.

He said that the HD is an important role, but after the incident, it was difficult to find assistance from the HD, and hoped that it would improve.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Water Supplies Department: Acting on a Risk-Based Management Policy

In reply to the enquiry, the representative of the Water Supplies Department pointed out that the repairing of the water mains is a long-term task as it has taken 15 years to repair the water mains.

At present, the department will take into account the age of the water pipes, the severity of the tragic leakage record and the scope of influence in accordance with the risk-based management policy, and give priority to the treatment of the relevant water pipes.

Regarding the water pipe burst in On Ting Village, the Water Supplies Department received a notification at about 1:00 p.m. that day, and arrived at the site at around 2:00 p.m. to arrange water shutdown.

The representative of the Water Supplies Department described the blasting site as a relatively sensitive location, and there are more and wider locations that need to be drilled.

Since the location involved is the main traffic artery and intersection, the project cannot be carried out for a long time.

Under the joint operation of the Housing Department and the Police, an old road was left for residents to enter and exit during peak hours, and then diverted during non-peak hours to facilitate maintenance works.

A representative of the Water Supplies Department mentioned that the above-mentioned road sections had also experienced leakage records in the past and had also undergone engineering repairs.

However, due to the busy road section, the planned works are difficult. If the road is to be closed, the work cannot be completed within a day or two. Therefore, a 7-liter water pipe will be used when replacing the water pipe, and the risk-based improvement project team has discussed with the consultant company. to follow up.

There are few activities for children in subdivided rooms under the epidemic Yau Tsim Mong establishes a multicultural running team to promote inclusiveness The first scale museum in Hong Kong opens The oldest collection is 143-year-old pre-war foot scales

01 Community