The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) strongly urged members of the public in a statement yesterday not to throw domestic waste into sewers as it may lead to drain blockages and increase the risk of the novel coronavirus spreading further.
A large amount of domestic waste, according to the statement, was recently found in public sewers. The waste found included towels and facemasks, which the bureau pointed out “seriously affected” the sewers’ operation and can easily lead to sewage backflow, which can be caused by blocked sewers, and that can increase the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the community.
Wikipedia defines backflow as a plumbing term for “an unwanted flow of water in the reverse direction”, posing a serious health risk “for the contamination of potable water supplies with foul water”.
Domestic waste should not be discharged into drains, especially into toilets, the statement emphasised, adding that waste that is large in size can “easily get entangled and block the internal drains” and buildings’ public sewers.
The statement added that if members of the public notices any street drain abnormalities, they should phone IAM’s Civic Service Hotline at 2833 7676 to report the issues and enable follow-up arrangements.
Moreover, the statement said that the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) has forecast there is “a high chance that a typhoon will form in the vast low-pressure area in the Philippines” that could affect Macau later this week. The Municipal Affairs Bureau has taken a string of measures to unclog the sewers, while an emergency mechanism will be activated upon the issuance of a rainstorm signal, the statement noted.
This undated handout photo provided by the IAM yesterday shows drainage clearance workers unclogging sewers in the city centre amid the current COVID-19 outbreak.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows domestic waste such as cloths and facemasks removed from the city’s sewers.
