Residents struggle on without fresh water after pipe repairs further delayed amid rain

Residents struggle on without fresh water after pipe repairs further delayed amid rain Hong Kong authorities push back target time from 10.48am to noon, as residents in Eastern district brave rain to fetch water from wagons Some restaurant operators and residents expressed disappointment after the fresh water supply in Hong Kong’s Eastern district was not restored as promised on Monday morning after more than a day of disruption, with many having to fetch water from wagons amid heavy rain. According to a notice from the Water Supplies Department, the supply of fresh water in Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho would gradually resume from 10.48am on Monday, but that target was subsequently changed to noon. Authorities earlier promised to restore the water supply by 6am on Monday, 24 hours after the disruption began, affecting about 10,000 households in the two neighbourhoods. The department said that its engineering team had identified a leak at a pipe joint shortly after the water supply was briefly restored on Monday morning, prompting another suspension. It pledged to complete repairs by noon. It added that adverse weather and other underground pipes beside the affected water main had made repairs more difficult and delayed the process. Apologising to affected residents, the department said: “We will continue to provide temporary water supply points and closely monitor their conditions, ensuring an adequate supply of water wagons and water tanks until the fresh water supply to consumers returns to normal.” On Monday morning, most of the restaurants along Shau Kei Wan Main Street East were shut, with some putting up “closed for the day” notices.