ACQWS Paper No. 18 Proposed Extension of Validi ty of
14
ACQWS Paper No. 18 Proposed Extension of Validity of Renewal Certificate Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme (FWPQMRS) The Working Group on Water Quality in Buildings (WGQWB) has discussed the proposal of the Water Supplies Department (WSD) on (i) extension of the validity of a renewal certificate from 1 year to 2 years; (ii) a revision of the water examination requirement for renewal certificate from once per year to once every two years. Having given considerations to the following, the group has drawn up proposed amendments with a view to seeking the endorsement of the Committee: (a) WSD’s review has shown favourable results: (i) only one case of negative media report on an awarded public housing estate due to tenants pressing for replumbing in their individual flats, which was resolved by Housing Department within their established criteria; (ii) only one water quality complaint from an individual flat of an awarded building, which was settled after replacement of the corroded plumbing of the flat concerned; (iii) existing spot-checking mechanism being effective - revealing only minor deviations. (b) WSD has provided overseas reference on water examination requirements on consumers, indicating that the WHO, UK, USA, Australia, Malaysia and Taipei do no have such stipulation while Singapore and Shenzhen require tank cleaning and water examination for every 12 and 6 months respectively. (Vide Annex A). (c) Quality of water supply from tanks hinges on frequency of tank cleaning while water examination gives indication of the water quality only at that point of time. FWPQMRS requires quarterly tank cleaning. (d) From WSD’s continuous monitoring result on water quality including random sampling at consumer taps on indirect supply, failure cases are very rare. (e) Credibility of the Scheme must be ensured for new renewal arrangement. Endorsement Sought 2. Members' endorsement is sought on proposed amendments for renewal of the Scheme as follows: (a) the validity of the renewal certificate is to be extended from 1 year to 2 years; (b) the water examination requirement for renewal applications is to be changed from once a year to once every two years; (c) to minimize applicant’s effort in providing documents, requirement to provide licence or registration certificate is to be deleted and only the 3 immediately past Records of Cleaning Water Tanks and Inspection Results
ACQWS Paper No. 18 Proposed Extension of Validi ty of
ACQWS Paper No. 18 Proposed Extension of Validity of Renewal
Certificate
Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme
(FWPQMRS) The Working Group on Water Quality in Buildings (WGQWB)
has discussed the proposal of the Water Supplies Department (WSD)
on (i) extension of the validity of a renewal certificate from 1
year to 2 years; (ii) a revision of the water examination
requirement for renewal certificate from once per year to once
every two years. Having given considerations to the following, the
group has drawn up proposed amendments with a view to seeking the
endorsement of the Committee:
(a) WSD’s review has shown favourable results: (i) only one case of
negative media report on an awarded public housing estate due to
tenants pressing for replumbing in their individual flats, which
was resolved by Housing Department within their established
criteria; (ii) only one water quality complaint from an individual
flat of an awarded building, which was settled after replacement of
the corroded plumbing of the flat concerned; (iii) existing
spot-checking mechanism being effective - revealing only minor
deviations.
(b) WSD has provided overseas reference on water examination
requirements on consumers, indicating that the WHO, UK, USA,
Australia, Malaysia and Taipei do no have such stipulation while
Singapore and Shenzhen require tank cleaning and water examination
for every 12 and 6 months respectively. (Vide Annex A).
(c) Quality of water supply from tanks hinges on frequency of tank
cleaning while water examination gives indication of the water
quality only at that point of time. FWPQMRS requires quarterly tank
cleaning.
(d) From WSD’s continuous monitoring result on water quality
including random sampling at consumer taps on indirect supply,
failure cases are very rare.
(e) Credibility of the Scheme must be ensured for new renewal
arrangement. Endorsement Sought 2. Members' endorsement is sought
on proposed amendments for renewal of the Scheme as follows:
(a) the validity of the renewal certificate is to be extended from
1 year to 2 years;
(b) the water examination requirement for renewal applications is
to be changed from once a year to once every two years;
(c) to minimize applicant’s effort in providing documents,
requirement to provide licence or registration certificate is to be
deleted and only the 3 immediately past Records of Cleaning Water
Tanks and Inspection Results
2
of Plumbing are required (vide Section E of Annex B); (d) for
spot-checking of renewal cases, WSD will conduct a site inspection
for
every 20th renewal application to verify the correctness of
inspection items. Half of the inspection will be conducted before
the certificate is issued and the remaining half inspection 1 year
after the issue of renewal certificate. Rectifications of
non-compliance cases will be required; (for spot-checking new
applications, WSD will continue to conduct site inspection for
every 20th application to verify the correctness of inspection
items before certificate issued.)
(e) renewal application can be submitted not earlier than 3 months
before the expiry of the last certificate or not later than 3
months after the expiry. Then, the renewal certificate will be
effective right from the expiry of last certificate. (Sample
renewal certificate is attached as Annex C). Otherwise, the
application will be treated as brand new and validity of the
certificate will be reset for 1 year, starting from a new approval
date;
(f) to ensure compliance with requirements of the FWPQMRS when
there is a change in building management company, the owners/
Incorporated Owners are now required to undertake in the Section G
of Application/Renewal Application Form (Page 3 of Annex B) to
ensure that the new management company within 1 month upon taking
up will submit the Undertaking Form (Annex D) for the certificate
to remain valid. Failing that, the existing certificate will expire
on the same day the management company changes. WSD will send a
reminder to the owner/Incorporated Owners 1 month prior to the
expiry of existing management contract.
Water Supplies Department September 2006 WSD 364/1/13/1/1/04 Pt.
1
Annex A
Findings on overseas water testing requirements on consumers or
agents for plumbing owned and maintained by them
Country/Region /City
water testing requirements on consumers or agents for plumbing
owned and maintained by them
Internet hyperlink URL (First connected to internet, then click on
the hyperlink, see the document in internet browser)
World Health Organisation
No stipulation. (instead, it states in last para. of p.31 of the
Guidelines: A Framework for Safe Drinking Water that “the supplier
is normally responsible for the quality of the water only up to a
defined point in the distribution system and may not have
responsibility for deterioration of water quality as a result of
poor plumbing or unsatisfactory storage tanks in households and
buildings.”)
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation _health/dwq/gdwq3_2.pdf
USA No stipulation (except advice at right column of p.2 about
public supply as water source on “testing of water by consumer for
lead if he has lead pipes or solder and for iron or hardness if he
has problems with the taste, odour or appearance”) A Website
“H2O4U” recommends under “When Should I Test?” that for premise on
“Public Supply, …, test when you move into a new residence to
acquire a "base line" of contaminant level, if any. Retest every
three years, unless you have reason to believe that something has
changed that could affect the quality of your water.”
http://s142412519.onlinehome.us/u w/pdfs/G3558_1.PDF
http://www.softwater.com/faq.html# ts0
UK No stipulation in “The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations
2000” http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20 003184.htm
Australia No stipulation (except in third para, p.3-29 of Framework
for Management of Drinking Water Quality states about “consumer
responsibilities beyond the meter and how drinking water quality
may be affected in household distribution and use”)
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publicatio ns/_files/awg2.pdf
Taipei No stipulation (just reminding tank cleaning only under
Section “Safe and Delicious Water”)
http://www.twd.gov.tw/english/tipe/ tipe_b.htm
Kula Lumpur, No stipulation Item (f), Attachment 1
Malaysia Singapore Section 3.11 of “Handbook on Application for
Water Supply” requires “consumer …not
less frequently than once every 12 months…to clean and disinfect
the water storage tank and certify that…water samples taken from
the tank pass the appropriate chemical and bacteriological
examinations;,,,” The 8 test parameters are (a) pH, (b) Colour, (c)
Turbidity, (d) Conductivity or Total Dissolved Solids, (e) Residual
Chlorine, (f) Iron, (g) Total Colony Count and (h) Total Coliform
Bacteria. (For comparison, the 7 parameters required under FWPQMRS
are (a)-(c), (d) Conductivity, (f), (h) and (i) E Coli.)
http://www.corenet.gov.sg/einfo/Dis playFullDoc.asp?docname=D00067
&status=Ready then click Section 3.11. Para. 3 of Attachment
2
Shenzhen, China
… { 8 (PH
)}
47/F Immigration Tower 7 Gloucester Road Wan Chai Hong Kong
Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme
Application Form/Renewal Application Form I/We* apply for
acceptance to the Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance
Recognition Scheme (referred to as the “Scheme” below). A. Type of
Building(s)
Please indicate the type of building(s) applying to join the Scheme
by checking ONE of the boxes listed below:- Hotels Licence No.:
Restaurants Licence No.: Buildings (residential) – Total No. of
residential flats: Buildings (commercial or combined commercial and
residential) -
Total No. of residential flats: Others (please specify)
B. Particulars of the Applicant
Name of owner(If applicable, Incorporated Owners Registration
Certificate No.: )/ operator / management agent: Correspondence
address: Name of contact person: Post / Title of contact person:
Contact tel. no. / fax no. : Contact e-mail address:
C. Name(s) and Address(es) of the Building(s)/Hotels/Restaurants to
be included in the Application (please use additional blank sheets
if necessary)
Preferred Format on the Scheme Certificate(s)
2
Please indicate the preferred format of the scheme certificate(s)
by checking ONE of the boxes listed below:- One certificate for
each building/hotel/restaurant One certificate for the whole
estate/development/phase* and this Application
covers all blocks therein. The preferred naming is:
______________________________________________________________
E. Documents to be Included in the Application The application
shall be submitted together with the following documents for each
building:
1. Hotel License or Restaurant License(where appropriate). 2.
Incorporated Owners Registration Certificate (where appropriate).
1. Completed Checklist on Tank Cleaning, Water Quality Examination
and
Plumbing Inspection (Annex 2). 2. Dates of Cleaning Water Tanks and
Inspections of Plumbing in the validity
period of last certificate Dates of Cleaning Water Tanks Dates of
Inspections of Plumbing
3. At least 3 immediately past Records of Cleaning Water Tanks (for
example, copies of signed Completion Certificates or Confined Space
– Permit-to-Work Certificates, which show the locations and dates
of cleaning and signatures of competent persons, are
acceptable).
4. Water Quality Examination Results (Sample(s) taken not earlier
than 3 months from the date of application.)
5. At least 3 immediately past Inspection Results of Plumbing
related to Water Quality.
F. Declaration of Water Quality Complaints (This scheme would
accept cases involving water quality complaints before application
if the applicant demonstrates, by the information given below, to
have taken appropriate resolution to the complaints within a
reasonable time.)
1. Any water quality complaints in the past 12 months? No/Yes*,
number of complaints: 2. Nature of complaints:
3
3. Average Handling Time: 4. Remedial Actions Taken: 5. All
complaints cleared? Yes/No*
Outstanding Complaints Nature No.
G. Terms and Conditions 1. I/We* declare that all the information
and supporting documents provided for the purpose of this
Application are
true, accurate and complete.
2. I/We* have maintained the plumbing up to a high standard for
keeping the good quality of government water
supplies throughout the inside service up to the consumers’
taps.
3. I/We* shall ensure that all my/our staff are fully aware of and
observe the assessment criteria of the Scheme at all
times during the validity period of the Certificate.
4. I/We* shall co-operate with the Water Supplies Department (WSD)
for checking the compliance of the prescribed
criteria of the Scheme if considered necessary by the WSD.
5. I/We* agree that none of the members of the WSD, the Advisory
Committee on Quality of Water Supplies
(ACQWS) or the Appeal Board of the Scheme shall have any
responsibility or liability whatsoever in relation to any
dealings between the Scheme Certificate holder and the holder’s
customers arising from the Scheme.
6. I/We* shall not behave in a manner which may jeopardize or
damage the reputation or interests of the Government
of the HKSAR, the WSD, the ACQWS, the Appeal Board of the
Scheme.
7. I/We * abide by that the Certificate remains the property of the
WSD and shall return the Certificate when required
by the WSD.
8. I/We* shall not transfer the Certificates to other persons or
organizations without the permission of the WSD.
9. I/We* agree to abide by the decisions of the Appeal Board and
the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
I/We* wish to receive future correspondence relating to the Scheme
by e-mail / fax / mail*. Applicant: Authorized Signature Date Name
& Title Company Chop Management Contract Valid Till Date:
4
Supported by Building Owner(s)/Incorporated Owners/Mutual Aid
Committee: I/We* understand that if there is a change in building
management company the FWPQMRS certificate will expire on
that day. For the certificate to remain valid, I/We* shall instruct
the new company to submit an “Undertaking Form
for Incoming Building Management Company” (downloadable from
www.wsd.gov.hk) within 1 month and to continue
to observe all the requirements of and the Terms and Conditions of
the FWPQMRS.
Authorized Signature Date Name & Title Chop Correspondence
Address:
* please delete whichever not applicable.
Annex C
47/F Immigration Tower 7 Gloucester Road Wan Chai Hong Kong
Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme
Undertaking Form for Incoming Building Management Company
I am / We are* the Incoming Building Management Company for Name of
Building: FWPQMRS Certificate No.:
FWPQMRS Certificate Valid Till Date:
Building Management Contract Start Date:
I/We* will fit in the last quarterly tank cleaning and plumbing
inspection of the outgoing Building Management Company and continue
to carry out quarterly tank cleaning and plumbing inspection and
subsequent rectification (for detail requirements, please see
Checklist on Tank Cleaning, Water Quality Examination and Plumbing
Inspection, downloadable at www.wsd.gov.hk) Terms and Conditions 1.
I/We* declare that all the information provided for the purpose of
this Application are true, accurate and complete.
2. I/We* have maintained the plumbing up to a high standard for
keeping the good quality of government water
supplies throughout the inside service up to the consumers’
taps.
3. I/We* shall ensure that all my/our staff are fully aware of and
observe the assessment criteria of the Scheme at all
times during the validity period of the Certificate.
4. I/We* shall co-operate with the Water Supplies Department (WSD)
for checking the compliance of the prescribed
criteria of the Scheme if considered necessary by the WSD.
5. I/We* agree that none of the members of the WSD, the Advisory
Committee on Quality of Water Supplies
(ACQWS) or the Appeal Board of the Scheme shall have any
responsibility or liability whatsoever in relation to any
dealings between the Scheme Certificate holder and the holder’s
customers arising from the Scheme.
6. I/We* shall not behave in a manner which may jeopardize or
damage the reputation or interests of the Government
of the HKSAR, the WSD, the ACQWS, the Appeal Board of the
Scheme.
7. I/We * abide by that the Certificate remains the property of the
WSD and shall return the Certificate when required
2
by the WSD.
8. I/We* shall not transfer the Certificates to other persons or
organizations without the permission of the WSD.
9. I/We* agree to abide by the decisions of the Appeal Board and
the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
I/We* wish to receive future correspondence relating to the Scheme
by e-mail / fax / mail*. Incoming Building Management Company:
Authorized Signature Date Name & Title Company Chop
Management Contract Valid Till Date: Correspondence address:
Contact tel. no. / fax no. : Contact e-mail address: Supported by
Building Owner(s)/Incorporated Owners/Mutual Aid Committee: I/We*
understand that if there is a change in building management company
the FWPQMRS certificate will expire on
that day. For the certificate to remain valid, I/We* shall instruct
the new company to submit an “Undertaking Form
for Incoming Building Management Company” (downloadable from
www.wsd.gov.hk) within 1 month and to continue
to observe all the requirements of and the Terms and Conditions of
the FWPQMRS.
Authorized Signature Date Name & Title Chop Correspondence
Address:
* please delete whichever not applicable.