Banned substance found in water supply of 2 Hong Kong housing estates
Black particles in supply at two Fanling estates are mainly bitumen, government says, while stressing the water is safe to drink
Black particles found in the freshwater supply at two public housing estates are mainly bitumen, authorities have said, while stressing that the water is safe to drink.
Director of Water Supplies Roger Wong Yan-lok sought to reassure the public on Thursday after government tests showed the presence of the substance, which is banned from use in pipes, in most of the 126 samples collected from each of the blocks in Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court, both in Fanling.
“Bitumen is insoluble in water and is not harmful to humans,” he said.
Wong added that experts commissioned by the Water Supplies Department five years ago did not find any toxic substances in three litres of hot water boiled with 10 grams of bitumen.
“Even if residents drink water containing bitumen, there is no need to worry,” he said.
Residents at the two public rental and subsidised estates 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.