I am a Technical Officer of the Joint Office (JO) and I would like to share with you a case in which we successfully assisted a member of the public in identifying the source of water seepage. In October 2023, the Kowloon Regional Joint Office received a water seepage report in Kowloon City District. The seepage area at the ceiling of the bathroom of the flat caused concrete spalling, seriously affecting the occupants’ daily life.
The JO assigned a Health Inspector to conduct Stage I and Stage II investigation at the flat concerned, including confirmation of the water seepage condition and performance of colour water tests for drainage pipes at the upper flat, but the source of water seepage could not be identified. A consultant was immediately arranged to conduct Stage III professional investigation at the flat concerned.
At first, the owner of the upper flat expressed doubts and was unwilling to let the consultant enter the flat for testing again because he thought that Stage I and Stage II investigation could not prove his flat had anything to do with the water seepage condition. However, after I patiently explained to him the procedures of water seepage investigation and the responsibilities of owners, he understood and finally consented to the staff of the consultant entering the flat for testing. The test results revealed that defective water-proofing facilities at the floor slab and enclosing walls of the bathroom of the upper flat had caused seepage in the lower flat. The JO immediately issued a Nuisance Notice and the owner of the upper flat proactively carried out the necessary repair works. Eventually, seepage at the ceiling of the bathroom of the lower flat ceased and the problem was resolved.
The successful resolution of the water seepage problem was attributed to the co-operation of multiple parties. On the one hand, the owner of the upper flat was aware of his due responsibilities and co-operative in the investigation, and carried out the repair works. On the other hand, the management office also served as a communication channel which helped expedite the progress of the case. Moreover, colleagues in the JO worked together with the goal of resolving water seepage nuisances faced by the public, ultimately bringing the water seepage problem to an end.