Govt introduces three new parameters to drinking water testing schemes

The government will include three new parameters in the routine drinking water testing program to improve drinking water standards, which will be implemented from June.

The authorities announced on Wednesday that the newly added parameters include manganese, cylindrospermopsins, and saxitoxins, in accordance with the latest World Health Organization guidelines.

The coverage of the existing parameter microcystin-LR will also be expanded under the revision, which has been agreed upon by the Drinking Water Safety Advisory Committee after deliberation.

Meanwhile, parameters including tetrachloroethene and uranium will be removed, as previous monitoring data showed that their contents were extremely low or even undetectable, far below the level that would pose a risk to health.

These two parameters will still remain on the surveillance list to facilitate the Water Supplies Department's monitoring from time to time.

In addition, the Department will stop testing for antimony under the enhanced water quality monitoring program, as the levels of the substance in drinking water samples collected have always been below the reporting limit.