Water Conservation Campaign goes on
Press Release

     The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr. Lau Si Io presided over the opening ceremony of the promotional activities "Drinking water and thinking of its source" within the scope of the carnival "Water for Life" on 24^th November at Tap Seac Square, which has been organized by the Promotional Team for Water Conservation, Salinity Response Task Force, other governmental departments and also benefited of the collaboration of civic associations as well as it counted on a massive participation by local residents.

     Many officials were present, among which the president of the General Council of the Environment Council, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the director of the Maritime Administration, Ms. Wong Soi Man; the acting president of the Executive Committee of the Environment Council, Ms. Vong Man Hung; the vice president of the Administrative Council of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Ms. Cheung So Mui; the Executive Director of The Macao Water Supply Co. Ltd, Mr. Fan Xiaojun; the representative of Department of Health, Mr. Tang Chi Ho; the representative of the president of Social Welfare Bureau; division chief of Social Welfare Bureau, Ms. Isabel Maria Hó; and other representatives of various governmental departments such as: Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau; Macao General Union of Neighbours Associations; General Association for Macao Labourers; Macao Women's Association; Macao Chong Wa Students' Association; and Macao Flying Eagle.

     The organizing entities aim at reinforcing public awareness on the need for water conservation and promoting a joint effort within society for saving each drop of water through games, performances, dance and other similar activities on the topic of water conservation.

     The promotional team set out a diversified action program between 24^th November and 4^th December, which includes a visit to a school, residence, and hotel for acknowledging practical outcomes and used methods for water conservation; presentation session on water resources exploration carried out by Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau as well as measures of water reuse after being recycled at the wastewater treatment plant of Cross Border Industrial Zone under the umbrella of Infrastructure Development Office on 29^th November; public opening of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau Laboratory on 2^nd December, which aims at disclosing works undertaken on water quality and analysis to water salinity as well as waste water treatment; seminar on "How to build a society for water conservation" in which local, Hong Kong and national experts and scholars participated so as to reinforce awareness in the whole society on the urgent need for water conservation.

     Water resources are a conditional and decisive factor for this region's sustainable development. Water consumption continues to increase in conformity with a fast-growing economy, population, and amount of tourists. A rise in water demand and water salinity pose serious obstacles to water supply into Macao. Thus Macao Government set up the Promotional Team for Water Conservation and Salinity Response Task Force in 2006 in order to cope with water salinity and promote awareness on water conservation.