I REFER to the letter from W. L. Pong (South China Morning Post, June 16).
According to the statistics of this department, there have been nine main bursts affecting water supply to the Pak Tam Chung area in the past two years. These bursts occurred to an asbestos cement water pipe laid 10 years ago.
Subsequent investigations revealed that there were signs of recent trench work in the vicinity, and therefore the possibility that other utility works had affected the integrity of the water main cannot be ruled out.
We have stepped up the waste detection work in this area to locate leaks which may ultimately develop into bursts.
Furthermore, we have recently enhanced the waste detection facilities to this water main to allow more waste detection work to be carried out. The performance of this section of water main has been under close monitoring and consideration will be given to its replacement under our long-term replacement programme.
The main bursts on June 12 and 13, which occurred at Tsam Chuk Wan, were at a distance of about 200 metres from each other. On both occasions, a radio announcement was made to notify affected consumers and water wagons and standpipes were arranged to provide temporary water supply. Normal supply was resumed promptly in both cases.
