Fwd: Application for Access to Information (CAI 20/20) - Questions about testing on coronavirus

[Simon H WANG]

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <frank...@dsd.gov.hk>
Date: Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 3:53 PM
Subject: Application for Access to Information (CAI 20/20) - Questions about testing on coronavirus
To: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
Cc: Karen PS CHEUNG <karenp...@dsd.gov.hk>

Dear Dr WANG,
        I refer to your enquiry made earlier to DSD on 4 July 2020. We are pleased to provide you with answers.

Q1. Please list the wastewater-treatment plants in Hong Kong including the locations and the areas from which the waste water was collected and processed.
A1. Please find locations of DSD’s sewage treatment facilities as listed in the following two files in DSD website.
https://www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Files/sewerage/sewage_treatment_facilities/List_of_Sewage_Treatment_Facilities_Eng.pdf
https://www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Files/sewerage/sewage_treatment_facilities/Eng_Sewage_Treatment_Plant_List_for_ST2_as_at_9Jul2019.pdf

Q2  Does the department collect sewage water samples? If so, how often and for what purposes?
A1. Effluent samples are collected from both DSD-owned plants and DSD-operated plants, analyzed according to parameters stipulated in Discharge License of individual plants, and the sampling frequency is to meet the license requirement. In addition, other samples such as incoming sewage are also collected and analyzed for process monitoring purpose.

Q3  Is it possible for university researchers or the members of the public to request sewage water samples from your department for research purposes?
A3. For academic support, DSD can supply sewage and sludge samples for tertiary institutions for academic studies and research.  More information can be found on the web site:
https://www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Service_Enquiries/Sewage_Treatment-Related_Services/index.html

Q4  In addition to collecting samples from the wastewater-treatment plants, is it possible to collect samples from other places near the residential areas in order to pinpoint the locations of community outbreak in case of positive test results on sewage water samples collected in the treatment plants?
A4. We do not normally collect sewage samples outside sewage treatment plant. If this has to be done, special arrangement will be required subject to safety, the risks and nuisance to the public.

Regards,
Frankie LAU
DSD.
2684-1045



From: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
To: enq...@dsd.gov.hk
Cc: cck...@dsd.gov.hk, ge-capstone-...@googlegroups.com
Date: 04/07/2020 13:14
Subject: Fwd: Questions about testing on coronavirus
Serial No.:

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Dear Sir/Madam
            I refer to my Code on Access to Information application made to the Department of Health dated on June 29 and a follow-up email on  4 July.  In the more recent email I asked about whether the HK government plans to perform tests on sewage water samples for coronavirus.  Here are my questions for your department to answer under the Code on Access to Information

1) Please list the wastewater-treatment plants in Hong Kong including the locations and the areas from which the waste water was collected and processed.

2) Does the department collect sewage water samples? If so, how often and for what purposes?

3) Is it possible for university researchers or the members of the public to request sewage water samples from your department for research purposes?  

4) In addition to collecting samples from the wastewater-treatment plants, is it possible to collect samples from other places near the residential areas in order to pinpoint the locations of community outbreak in case of positive test results on sewage water samples collected in the treatment plants?  

While 10 days- and 21-days time frames are in place for processing Code on Access to Information requests and your department pledges to answer enquiries within 10 calendar days (https://www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/About_Us/Performance_Pledges/index.html), I hope this request can be handled more promptly given its time-sensitive nature.  Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Yours sincerely
Simon Wang

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