RUSTY TAP WATER IN ANG MO KIO NEW TOWN

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development if he is aware that, despite the periodic flushing of water tanks in Ang Mo Kio New Town, most of the residents are still complaining of rusty tap water; and whether the Housing and Development Board will consider replacing all corroded galvanized iron downfeed pipes to stainless steel pipes and, if so, when.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, unlike some other HDB estates, the 45 blocks in Ang Mo Kio Constituency do not receive water from reservoirs with high chloride content. Rusty water there is probably due to old pipes. The HDB will survey each block to ascertain the condition of the pipes. Where necessary, the pipes will be replaced.

Mr Yeo Toon Chia (Ang Mo Kio): ( In Mandarin): Sir, when will such rusty pipes be replaced?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, the HDB has to investigate the pipes first. If the number of pipes is only a few, then the changing of the pipes can be carried out quite quickly. However, if the number of pipes involved is very large, then a tender has to be called, and therefore it will take some time to change these pipes. However, I would like to assure the Member for Ang Mo Kio that the HDB will look into this as a matter of urgency.

Dr Aline K. Wong (Changkat): Sir, in view of the fact that the rusty water affects quite a number of constituencies, would the Minister consider publishing in the press the planned schedule of replacement of these pipes, where they have been investigated, for the information of the residents of the affected constituencies other than Ang Mo Kio?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think this is agreeable and I will ask the HDB to look into it.