Hong Kong authorities have been urged to speed up pipe replacement and monitoring after three bursts in the same area in less than a week raised fresh concerns over ageing water infrastructure.
The latest burst in Tuen Mun came amid a series of leaks in recent months, including similar incidents in Kwai Chung and Shau Kei Wan, with the latter affecting more than 10,000 households.
The Water Supplies Department said on Tuesday morning that fresh water supply to four residential complexes near Tuen Lee Street in Tuen Mun would gradually resume after 9.30am, following the completion of emergency repairs to a 600mm steel water pipe. Supply had been suspended at 11pm the previous night to allow the work to proceed.
Speaking on a radio programme on Tuesday, Tuen Mun district councillor Chung Kin-fung said the rupture, which happened on Monday morning, had affected about 7,000 residents and was the third incident in the area within a week.
“Disrupting water supply to one area three times in such a short period has caused significant distress to residents,” he said.
At 11pm last Tuesday, the department cut the fresh water supply to the same four complexes after a section of a nearby water pipe was found to be leaking.