Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation 229
Water Supplies
Water from Guangdong
Hong Kong began receiving raw water from the Shenzhen Reservoir in Guangdong in 1960 under a scheme that provides it with 22.7 million cubic metres of water a year. The infrastructure for channelling water to Hong Kong was expanded in 1965 with the building of an 80-kilometre transfer system known as the Dongshen Water Supply System to deliver water from Dongjiang, or East River, to Hong Kong via Shenzhen Reservoir. In mid-2003, a dedicated aqueduct was commissioned to deliver Dongjiang water directly to Shenzhen Reservoir. Since then, the quality of Dongjiang water supplied to Hong Kong has improved significantly.
Dongjiang is the major source of raw water for Hong Kong. The current agreement signed in April 2006 guarantees long-term supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong.
Water Storage and Consumption
Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 2007, some 386 million cubic metres of water was in storage, compared with 435 million cubic metres a year earlier. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove held a total of 339 million cubic metres. Rainfall of 1 706 millimetres, about 23 per cent lower than the annual average of 2 214 millimetres, was recorded in 2007.
The average daily consumption of water in 2007 was 2.61 million cubic metres, compared with 2.64 million cubic metres in 2006. Some 951 million cubic metres of potable water was consumed in 2007, compared with 963 million cubic metres in 2006. In addition, 271 million cubic metres of sea water was used for flushing, compared with 260 million cubic metres in 2006.
Total Water Management
The Government is proceeding with the Total Water Management Programme for rational utilisation, protection and management of water resources and for exploring new water resources. The Government has completed a pilot plant study to investigate the technical and financial viability of seawater desalination using reverse osmosis in Hong Kong. On the question of water reclamation and reuse, the Government has commissioned two pilot schemes for using reclaimed water in Ngong Ping and Shek Wu Hui. In addition, the Government is conducting a study on long-term strategies to be adopted under the Total Water Management Programme in Hong Kong. The study will take into account the findings of the various Hong Kong pilot schemes and those of similar schemes overseas. The study will be completed in 2008.
Water Works
Works on the first and second stages of the programme for the replacement and rehabilitation of some 3 000 kilometres of water mains began in December 2000 and January 2007 respectively. Works on the third stage will be carried out between 2008 and 2013. Planning of the final stage is under way, and works on it will be carried out from 2011 to 2015.