Water samples from Sheung Chui Court in Tsuen Wan have met the government standard for lead content.
In a statement released tonight in response to a media report alleging excess lead was found in the new Home Ownership Scheme estate's drinking water, the Housing Authority said the estate has passed water safety checks.
The authority also said the materials and fittings used in the estate's water supply system have been approved by the Water Authority, adding the Water Services Department issued a compliance certificate for the system in March after the water sample tests and lead content inspections on the system's solder joints have yielded satisfactory results.
The department said the manufacturing of new metal pipes and fittings will leave minute amounts of metal residue on their surface which will be leached into water easily. If the system is not used for a long time, the leached metals will accumulate in stagnant water.
For taps that have not been used for a long time, the department advised the public to run them for a few minutes to wash away the accumulated metals.
To alleviate residents' concern about water quality, the Housing Authority said it will flush the water pipes thoroughly to reduce the amount of metal residue in the drinking water.
More water sample tests will also be conducted, it added.
