Fears of a second Hong Kong water scare as heavy metals found in public estate tap water
The tests, conducted over the past month, show the water contains metallic impurities, including lead, aluminium, iron, zinc and copper
Fears of another Hong Kong water scare were ignited on Tuesday after lead and other toxic heavy metals were found in tap water at a public housing estate in Shau Kei Wan.
Members of the opposition Democratic Party tested the drinking water from taps in eight households in Oi Tung Estate after residents complained of foul-smelling water and skin conditions after showering.
“I do not know if it is the water but I feel itchy every time I shower,” said a woman who gave her surname as Cheng, 95, who has lived on the estate for more than eight years. “This is [like] a slow death.”
The tests, conducted over the past month, showed the water contained metallic impurities, including lead, aluminium, iron, zinc and copper. Lead made up 27.7 per cent of the impurities found – while in a separate test, 8.8 per cent of the impurities were found to be iron.
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But the test results, released on Tuesday, did not prove the drinking water was unsafe for consumption, with a more comprehensive test needed to gauge the actual content of lead in the water.
