EMSD announces latest sampling results for legionella at fresh water cooling towers

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 8) announced that the department tested 96 water samples collected from cooling towers in 59 buildings in its routine inspections in June this year. Two samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the two samples were collected in June, are located at Sing Teck Factory Building, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owner of the cooling tower requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these two cases has already been completed by the owner. Details of these two cases can be found in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.