1.What are the latest water sampling test results on lead content?

Note：As at 19 November 2015

2.What are the test results of water samples taken from kindergartens and schools?
For test results of water samples taken from kindergartens and schools, please visit the website of Education Bureau:
www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/news009/Test_Results_of_Water_Samples_en.pdf
Note：As at 16 December 2015

3.What are the latest water quality testing parameters required by the Water Supplies Department (WSD) for a newly constructed inside service?
The parameters are pH value, colour, turbidity, conductivity, free residual chlorine, E. coli, total coliforms, heterotrophic plate count, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel.  Lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel are newly added items.

4.What are the respective acceptable concentration levels of the above four newly added heavy metals in water specified by the Government and the World Health Organization (WHO)?
HKSAR has adopted the levels in WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality published in 2011, which is tabulated below.

5.What standard does the WSD follow when taking water samples for testing?
The WSD has made reference to the international standard ISO5667 (Part 5) when formulating the procedures of sampling for testing the quality of normal drinking water to ensure that the samples taken are representative.

6.Why not take samples of stagnant water in pipes?
If samples are taken in the morning without flushing the pipes beforehand, the samples can only represent the quality of water stagnant in the pipes for some time, but cannot represent the quality of drinking water for the whole day.  Therefore, it is not suitable to compare such water quality data with the WHO’s drinking water guideline value for lead for long-term consumption, i.e. no more than 10 micrograms per litre.  Systematic errors will also arise from this sampling method due to variations in times of water stagnant in the pipes, which may affect the comparability of results.

7.Should members of the public conduct water sampling tests themselves?
If members of the public wish to know the lead content in normal drinking water, they can employ accredited laboratories to take water samples and carry out the tests.  For information about these laboratories, please visit the website of the Innovation and Technology Commission:
www.itc.gov.hk/en/quality/hkas/doc/Testing_of_lead_and_other_heavy_metals_in_water.pdf.

Lead is a common element in the environment, including the soil, and airborne dust and particles.  Testing the compliance of lead content in drinking water with the standard stipulated in WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality published in 2011, i.e. 10 micrograms per litre, will be approximately equivalent to testing one drop of water out of 40 standard size swimming pools.  If water samples are taken without following the procedures properly, the reliability of test results can be undermined easily.

8.What should members of the public do if the lead content of water samples taken according to the proper procedures is found to be non-compliant with the WHO standard after testing by accredited laboratories?
The members of the public should act immediately according to the health advice given by the Centre for Health Protection.  For details, please refer to the website: www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/40398.html.
The members of the public should also discuss with their estate/building management offices, owners or owners’ committees to engage relevant professionals, including licensed plumbers, building services engineers or building surveyors, etc., to inspect the internal water supply systems and identify the source of problem of the excess lead content and to take appropriate remedial measures.

9.Can members of the public install water filters for removing lead in drinking water?
Members of the public can install water filters which certified by the American NSF 53 Standard for removal of lead.  Such filters can effectively reduce the lead content in water.  As the water filter will remove residual chlorine along with lead from the tap water making it favourable for bacterial growth, the filtered water should be boiled before consumption.  Unfiltered tap water can still be used for other domestic purposes, e.g. washing vegetables, washing dishes, bathing, etc. Hot water should not be filtered. It will affect the performance of the filter and water quality.

If members of the public install faucet type or countertop type filters with no stop valve downstream for removal of lead, the installation work will be regarded as a minor modification of the inside service.  In this case, users should strictly follow manufacturer’s instructions on use of the water filter and properly maintain the water filter as specified by the manufacturer, and establish the frequency of replacement of its filter cartridge according the daily water consumption through the filter to ensure its proper performance and lead-reducing effectiveness.  

If the consumers want to install water filters other than the above types (e.g. the in-line filter), they should employ licensed plumbers for installation according to the Waterworks Regulations and submit applications to the WSD through the licensed plumbers.  Details are available at the WSD’s website: http://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/faqs/index.html#8.

10.Where can the list of local licensed plumbers be found?
The licensed plumber directory is available at the WSD’s website:
https://www.esd.wsd.gov.hk/esd/aws/licensedPlumberDirectory/init.do?pageFlag=1&USER_LANG=LANG_EN.

11.What are the Quality Water Supply Schemes for Buildings?
The WSD has launched the Quality Water Supply Schemes for Buildings - Fresh Water and Flushing Water with an aim to encourage building owners and property managers to maintain their plumbing systems properly.  For details of the schemes, please visit the WSD’s website:
www.wsd.gov.hk/en/core-businesses/water-quality/buildings/fresh-water-plus/index.html. WSD has invited Advisory Committee on Water Resources and Quality of Water Supplies to review and study whether to include heavy metal parameters for the Scheme.

12.What is the number of the WSD’s Customer Services Hotline?
2824 5000.

Health effect of lead

1.What is Lead?
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal which usually presents in very small amounts in the environment. Lead and its compounds may be found in products such as batteries, lead-based paints, lead-containing ceramics, lead solder and leaded petrol.

2.What is the Health Effect of Lead?
Long term exposure to lead, which when accumulated in large amounts in the body, may result in anaemia, increased blood pressure, brain and kidney damage. The World Health Organisation Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality has set a provisional guideline value of not more than 10 micrograms per litre for lead meaning that lifetime consumption of water complying with the guidelines does not represent any significant risk to health. 
For further details, please refer to the Health factsheet: Incident of Lead in Drinking Water .

3.Any health Advice for the use of Drinking Water in Kai Ching Estate and Kwai Luen Estate (Phase 2)?
Before the problem of lead content in drinking water is settled, residents of Kai Ching Estate and Kwai Luen Estate (Phase 2) are recommended to take precautionary measures which include flushing faucets individually before using water for drinking or cooking. Infants, young children under six years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers should use alternative sources of drinking water.

4.Has any hotline been set up to provide health advice?
The Department of Health has set up a hotline (2125 1122) to answer questions on the effect of lead on health as well as to provide health tips, the hotline will operate from 9am to 6pm between Monday and Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

Last revision date: Dec 16, 2015