Directly-elected lawmaker-cum-unionist Ella Lei Cheng I asked the government about the management of the city’s wastewater in a written interpellation submitted to the government in June, with the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) saying that the government will launch a public tender this year.
Lei’s office sent copies of the DSPA reply to the local media yesterday.
Lei quoted the data of the bureau’s State of the Environmental of Macau 2022 report, which indicated that the total assessment index of water quality and non-metal assessment index of Macau’s coastal waters in 2022 had decreased compared with those of 2021, while the non-metal assessment index of eight monitoring points still exceeded the standard value.
Lei also quoted the 2022 report’s data as indicating that the total assessment index of Macau’s coastal-water quality and non-metal assessment index were higher in that year than the overall sea water quality, while the non-metal assessment index of Macau’s coastal-water quality exceeded the official standard.
Lei urged the government to review the sewage treatment burden brought about by urban and economic development in the future and increase the treatment capacity in a targeted manner, as well as take long-term measures to safeguard the quality of sewage treatment in Macau.
The bureau said in the reply to the written interpellation that it will commence the upgrading of the Coloane Wastewater Treatment Plant this year and launch an open tender for the sewage treatment plant on the artificial island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HKZMB).
Lei quoted that bureau as previously saying that in recent years the main causes of poor water quality along the coast included mischannelling of domestic sewage, illegal sewage discharge and sewage interception, resulting in sewage overflowing directly into the coastal waters. Lei asked the government about the latest situation of its wastewater management.
The bureau replied that the government will channel the overflowing sewage to a temporary sewage treatment facility for treatment and discharge after the commissioning of the temporary sewage treatment facility near the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, so as to improve the coastal water quality and tackle odour issues.
In addition, the bureau noted that the construction of temporary sewage treatment facilities near Avenida Marginal do Lam Mau has already started, while a tender for building a temporary sewage treatment facility in the Inner Harbour’s southern area. is proceeding.
