Macau’s water supply increased by 5.6 percent last year compared to 2023, while pumpage is estimated to grow by around 3 percent this year, Macao Water Executive Director Nacky Kuan Sio Peng told reporters yesterday.
Kuan made the remarks during an interview prior to the start of yesterday’s 2025 Media Spring Luncheon and the kick-off ceremony for the 90th Anniversary Celebrations hosted at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre.
Kuan further elaborated on the increase during her speech, noting that the local water pumpage in 2024 rose to a “record high” of 100 million cubic metres, which was mainly driven by the local tourism industry’s recovery. She added that the expected growth in water usage this year was due to the development of the New Urban Zone Area A and Macau’s economic development.
Kuan also told reporters during the group interview before the luncheon that Macao Water’s “Subsidy Programme for Repairing Service Connections of Low-rise Buildings”* was found to help solve hygiene issues in buildings such as leaks, while also aiding in reducing the pipeline water loss rate. Originally set to end in March, Macao Water has decided to extend the subsidy plan for another three years, aiming to assist more members of the public. Its scope will be expanded through inspections or reports from the general public in the future, Kuan noted.
Around 700 buildings have been invited to join the plan, according to Kuan, which, she said, accounts for 20 to 30 percent of low-rise buildings. Moreover, Kuan said she believed that as members of the public’s water usage awareness is higher, consciousness of the need for water conservation has risen as well, along with the management of internal property repairs. Macao Water, Kuan added, believes that participation is expected to rise by 20-30 percent.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s kick-off ceremony also saw the announcement of a series of online and offline activities to be organised this year for Macao Water’s 90th anniversary, with a water treatment plant Open Day and online quizzes among the activities to be on offer.
*According to the Macao Water website, the programme (低層樓宇總供水設施維修資助計劃 in Chinese) aims to “encourage homeowners of low-rise buildings to properly repair and maintain the shared water supply facilities of their properties”.
Macao Water Executive Director Nacky Kuan Sio Peng speaks with reporters before the start of yesterday’s 2025 Media Spring Luncheon and the kick-off ceremony for the water utility’s 90th Anniversary Celebrations. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
