During a press conference on Wednesday, August 20th, André Cheong, the spokesperson for the Executive Council and Secretary for Administration and Justice, stated that the current Macau Water and Drainage Supply Regulation has been in effect for over 28 years. With the city’s continuous expansion, he said, it’s necessary to update technical standards to meet the needs of social development. The new regulation not only establishes the core framework for water and drainage supply systems but also provides clear rules for the use of recycled water. Specific technical requirements will be announced separately via a Chief Executive’s dispatch.
Lai Weng Leong, director of the Land and Public Works Bureau, added that the Chief Executive will determine the specific areas for the public recycled water distribution service. The first phase of the recycled water plant in Coloane is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2026. The Seac Pai Van public housing complex and the University of Macau will be the first users to connect to the system. The recycled water pipeline network in the New Urban Zone Area A has already been completed, and the service will be gradually expanded to other areas in the future.
Existing residential buildings and older districts are not currently included in the mandatory scope due to the structural and technical difficulties of retrofitting existing water supply systems. The specific regulations regarding recycled water will come into effect on September 1st of this year.
