Sewage misconnect gets wipeout

The Ombudsman has blasted the Buildings Department for serious delays in handling the misconnection of sewage pipes in private buildings - with two cases unresolved for 11 years.

It released a 56-page investigation report yesterday, revealing the department's delays in handling the misconnection of private building sewers to the stormwater collection system.

The office cited two referral cases in 2009 that went unresolved for years.

"The problem in the two cases had remained unrectified for more than 11 years as of December 2020," the report said.

It also revealed that another sewer misconnection case - which the department also received in 2009 - was only resolved 10 years later.

The report found that the delays in handling cases was due to the "ineffective" case monitoring mechanism at the Buildings Department.

The progress monitoring committee of the department monitors and follows up the status of outstanding statutory orders regularly, according to the report.

"The department established a monitoring mechanism at different levels, but some of the statutory orders were only complied with, or remained outstanding, years after issuance," it said.

The report also pointed out that the department failed to initiate an investigation swiftly. One of the cases proceeded with inspection and dye-tracing tests at the building three years after receiving the referral letter. The Ombudsman criticized the department for not allocating manpower properly and its indecisiveness in taking enforcement action.

"It is highly unsatisfactory that such cases were held in abeyance for years," the report said.

The department said officers responsible for the cases were required to attend to other more urgent issues, including building safety.

"We are facing persistent case backlogs," it told the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman acknowledged the practical difficulties the Environment Protection Department faces in investigating sewer misconnection cases under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.

Sewer misconnections are one of the major pollution sources affecting the quality of coastal waters, the report remarked.

It called upon both departments to seek judicial advice to explore the possibility of adducing evidence in applying for a warrant to increase the chances of success in entering premises for investigation.