According to WPB, Hong Kong lawmakers have intensified their demands for the immediate replacement of water pipes coated with bitumen, a substance banned for use in piping since the mid-2000s. Approximately 700 kilometers of the city’s water infrastructure—representing around 8% of the entire network—still contains these outdated bitumen linings.
Following the detection of black particles in the tap water of two public housing estates, pressure has mounted on authorities to disclose the locations of bitumen-lined pipes and implement real-time monitoring systems to safeguard water quality. Tests later confirmed that the black specks found in 126 water samples were primarily composed of bitumen, although officials asserted that the water posed no toxic or carcinogenic threat.
One critical section identified—a 400-meter stretch of pipeline upstream at Ping Che Road—was linked to the contamination. In response, officials announced its replacement and outlined broader plans to phase out the remaining bitumen-lined segments.
Lawmakers emphasized that public anxiety remains high despite the introduction of filters and the identification of contamination sources. They stressed that transparency regarding the affected zones is essential, not because all coated pipes pose immediate danger, but to foster public trust and preempt potential crises.
Advanced technologies such as microbots and computerized monitoring systems—including the Water Intelligent Network—have been proposed or partially implemented to track pipe conditions and detect contamination. Over 1,000 filters have already been installed in the existing network, and lawmakers advocate for further use of sensors and high-pressure cleaning methods, particularly in narrow residential pipelines where robots may be ineffective.
While officials maintain that comprehensive replacement is a long-term goal, lawmakers argue that delays in disclosing test results and taking decisive action have eroded public confidence. They urge the government to expedite both physical replacement and technological surveillance of pipes containing bitumen, warning that similar issues could arise in other districts if preventive measures are not enforced across the entire network.
By Bitumenmag
Bitumen, Oil, Pipe
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