Before 1924
Macao citizens relied on private wells and rain containers for their water.
1924
The first public reservoir in Macao – the Crocodile Reservoir – was constructed in the valley of Guia Hill by the Government. However, because of its size, only few hundred square feet in area, the water supply to the public was still limited.
1932
The Macao Water Company Ltd. was founded as a private capital company by Mr. Wong Lei and Mr. Wong Kam and lasted for three years. The water supply methodology was very simple and rudimental.
1935
60-year Concession Contract was signed between the Government and MELCO. The Water Supply became the subsidiary of the British owned Macao Electricity Lighting Company, Limited, with share capital of MOP1 million. The renewed Water Supply Company was inaugurated on August 1st, 1935.
1936
The water supply in Macao entered a new era – provision of treated and disinfected water. The Ilha Verde Treatment Plant was inaugurated on July 19th 1936 and in the same year the pumping station was upgraded and expanded, and a new reservoir, “the Main Storage Reservoir”, with an area of 300,000 square meters was built near the Outer Harbor.
1946
The management of the Water Supply became the responsibility of the president of Economic Department, Dr. Pedro Lobo, and other shareholders including Mr. Ho Yin, Mr. Chong Kwong, and Mr. Leong Cheong.
1959
Macao suffered serious water shortages during December 1958 to the first half of 1959. The normal supply of potable water was suspended and replaced by seawater. From January 16th to June 4th 1959, the sales of drinking water were rationed and the water was delivered to the consumers by water carts.
1960
Macao suffered serious drought during the spring of 1960. In March of the same year, Yinkeng and Lapa Reservoirs started supplying raw water to Macao, with daily throughput of 2 million gallons. This new supply scheme alleviated the problem of supply shortage.
1963
Guandong Province suffered its worse drought, which caused a serious blow to the water supply system in Macao. The water storage in the Main Reservoir was seriously hit and Leal Senado announced Nine Policies to limit the water supply.
With exception of the hospital, the water supply to consumers (domestic) reduced by 30 to 50 percent.
1968
On January 21, a 600-mm suction pipe, from Shejiazhui was put into operation on 24 –hours basis. This greatly alleviated the water supply ration imposed by the salinity of 1967.
Seventies
In the late 1970s, the water supply system fell behind the rising population and rapid economic growth due to lack of investment treatment technology and distribution network. The supply of water, the essential element of life and development, was scarce and unsafe with long and frequent interruptions.
1982
The water supply situation improved at the end of 1982. The water quality complied with the World Health Organization Standards and the company moved from deficit into a profitable financial situation.
However there was a lack of investment and long-term planning resulting in shortage of water, high turbidity and insufficient water pressure. The water did not yet meet European standards and the customer service levels were poor. The Macau government and citizens were therefore very dissatisfied during this period.
1985
A solution to this problem was found in 1985 and marked a real turn in the history of water supply in Macao. A 25-year Concession Contract was signed between the local Government and the joint venture formed between Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Lyonnaise des Eaux, a French based company and leader in the water treatment industry. The company was reorganized and a harmonious mix of Chinese and Western management practices was adopted. As a result of an intensive human and capital investment, within the same year, the water supply was normalized and the water quality met for the first time the EU stringent drinking water standards.
1990
Handheld computers for meter reading were introduced, enhancing the accuracy of meter reading and increasing efficiency.
1994
The entire treatment works and distribution system are fully automated and computerized ensuring a stable, high quality standard, adequately pressured and abundant water supply to consumers.
1998
A new treatment plant with a daily capacity of 60,000m3 was put into operation at the end of 1998. This plant was fully automated and monitored at the Central Control Room of Ilha Verde Treatment Plant. The new treatment plant increased the overall production capacity to cope with the future development.
1999
An integrated system for customer information (ICIS), specifically developed for the water industry, was purchased to improve the customer relationship management and the overall service efficiency.
Completed the upgrading of all automation and computer systems in October to resolve the Y2K issue effectively with a smooth switchover to the new millennium.
2000
Taipa 50 and Taipa 70 service reservoirs with capacities 20,000m3 and 2,000m3 respectively were put into operation in November. It increases the reliability of water supply to Taipa and Coloane.
The China National Accreditation Committee for Laboratories (CNAL) accredited the Laboratory & Research Center of Macao Water in June, which is compatible with ISO/IEC17025 quality control standard. Macao Water is the fourth water company in China that has been successfully accredited after Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjing.
Our Laboratory also received the Certificate of Metrology Accreditation by China State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision, China in June. The Certificate of Metrology Accreditation recognizes that National Metrological Department has confirmed the metrological verification, measurement capability and reliability in our testing work, and has confirmed our conditions and qualifications of publishing data to the public.
Thirteen representatives coming from different sectors in the community including domestics, commercial and industrial customers, formed the Macao Water Customer Liaison Group. The purpose is to take the initiative to strengthen the communication between the company and its customers in order to have a better understanding of their needs and expectations of our services.
2001
The automation systems in Ilha Verde treatment plant, Main Surface Reservoir treatment plant and Guia 70 have been upgraded and modified including systems for sludge extraction, supervision, chemicals and chlorination.
The new Guia 50 pumping station was put into operation with a daily supply capacity of 5,000m3. The treated water tank and pumping station at Garden Flora built 80 years ago were stopped at the same time.
New "Bi-monthly Billing Policy" was launched in January and a survey was conducted in May to obtain feedback on the new policy. Results showed that more than 63% of the customers were either very satisfied or satisfied with the new policy.
Macao Water officially launched a project for ISO9001:2000 certification
2002
The auto-control system for the filters and chemical dosing systems in the Ilha Verde Treatment Plant was upgraded to work more safely and accurately, and consequently improving remarkably the reliability of the system.
Estrogen, also known as endocrine interrupters, in aquatic environment has drawn the attention of the public all around the world. With its new high-tech HPLC instrument, the laboratory makes successful trials in analyzing the level to two estrogenic chemicals, 4-tert-Octylphenol and 4-nonylphenol, in Macau's surrounding aquatic environment. This shows the laboratory's ability to keep up with the latest development in analytical techniques in the field of environment.
2003
Macao Water is the first utility company in Macau, which has signed the Health and Safety Charter with the Labor Bureau to ensure a healthy and safe working environment for its employees and contractors as well as customers in the Customers Service Center.
Macao Water joined hand with CEM (Macao Electricity) and Elixir, our technology partner, developed and launched the first multi-utility portal – MacauServices.com in August, to provide an electronic on-line service platform for customers and all business partners in Macao.
2004
The technical conference on the “Latest Development in water quality” was co-organized by Macao Water, China Water Supply Association, Sino-French Water Development and the SUEZ Group in France on 22-23 March. About 300 experts and scholars from France, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao gathered at the conference to discuss the management of water quality and the latest development of related research.
As a responsible corporate citizen, Macao Water donated the first drinking water fountain named “Wallace Fountain” to the people of Macao and our tourist, which can slake their thirst with the good quality water that comes directly from network of Macao Water. This fountain was located at the Jardim de S. Francisco. The ceremony was inaugurated by Mr. Edmund Ho, Chief Executive Of Macao SAR on 23rd July.
In order to create more opportunities for outstanding engineering graduates from University of Macau to study in France, Macao Water signed an agreement with “n+i Engineering Institute Network” on 28th September. This would provide our local human resource market with more technical person. Macao Water has been active in cooperating with University of Macau in the implementation of this project.
2005
Following by the good response from the first Wallace Fountain introduced to Macao in 2004, Macao Water has committed to donate more Wallace Fountains to the people of Macao. The 2nd Wallace Fountain, which was located in Rua do Regedor Taipa, was inaugurated by Eng. Ao Man Long, Secretary for Transport and Public Works of the Macao Special Administrative Region of PRC on 22nd March.
Macao Water has passed the on-site assessment of OHSAS18001:1999 Occupational Health and Safety Management System. |
