The Water Supplies Department has enhanced its Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme and  renamed it the Quality Water Recognition Scheme for Buildings.

The Advisory Committee on Quality of Water Supplies endorsed the new arrangements, which take immediate effect.

The new features include classifying the recognition certificates into Gold, Silver and Blue grades, and adding incorporated owners and management agents' names on the certificates.

Blue Certificates will be awarded to buildings that have participated for less than three years; Silver Certificates to those who have joined for at least three years but less than five years; and Gold Certificates go to those who have participated for five years or more.

The scheme, launched in 2002, aims to encourage property owners, owners' corporations and building management agents to carry out regular maintenance of their premises' fresh water plumbing systems.

Under the scheme, licensed plumbers or qualified building services surveyors or engineers must inspect fresh water plumbing systems once every three months. The water tanks must be cleaned every three months and water quality tests taken once a year for new applications and once every two years for renewal applications.

The department has issued 1,966 certificates valid for one year as of December 31. For scheme details and application procedures, click here or call 2824 5000.