Water supplies chief assures safety as probe continues over black specks in residential tap water

Residents of Queen's Hill Estate in Fanling have been grappling with an unsettling discovery in their tap water since last Friday, when numerous households reported finding fine black particles flowing from their faucets.

Director of Water Supplies Wong Yan-lok addressed public concerns during a radio interview on Monday, assuring residents that despite the unexplained nature of the particles, extensive testing has confirmed the water remains safe for consumption.

Speaking on the radio program this morning, Wong explained that while the exact source of the black specks remains undetermined, the department has conducted a thorough flushing of the water system and rigorous laboratory analysis.

"The water quality meets all safety standards," Wong emphasized, though he advised residents to run their taps for several minutes before use as a precautionary measure.

The situation has prompted an ongoing investigation into the estate's relatively new water infrastructure, with Wong outlining several potential explanations being considered by experts.

One theory suggests possible material degradation within the water supply system, though officials note this seems unlikely given the estate's recent construction. Another possibility involves rubber seal fragments from internal piping that may have been ground down by mechanical pumps. The department has also not ruled out the chance of external contaminants entering through intact filtration systems.

Local representatives have been fielding concerns from anxious residents since the problem first emerged.

Northern District Councillor Wu King-pang, who also heads the Queen's Hill care team, described how reports flooded in over the weekend, with many residents resorting to purchasing bottled water for daily needs.

"The particles had a somewhat sticky consistency," Hu recalled, adding that while recent checks show marked improvement, some households still report occasional black specks in their water.

This isn't the first time Queen's Hill Estate has faced water quality issues. Wu noted that similar problems occurred shortly after residents moved into the new development, which were eventually mitigated through enhanced filtration and comprehensive system flushing.  The current incident has raised broader questions about water monitoring in public housing, he said.

In response, the Water Supplies Department said it is now collaborating with the Housing Department to explore installing advanced water quality sensors across public housing estates. This proposed measure aims to provide early detection of similar issues in the future.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to stress that the black particles pose no known health risk, classifying them as inert substances.

(Marco Lam)