-
- 27
The TES rate will be adjusted if the effluent strength measured by Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values of the wastewater generated by the customer's premises are lower than the generic values.
Between 1 April 1995 and the end of April 1996, the Drainage Authority has received 259 applications for variations of TES rate. Out of these applications, 140 cases were approved, 39 cases were rejected and 33 cases withdrawn. The balance of 47 cases are still being processed. The overall reduction in charges is estimated to be about $3 million per month.
The discharge factor will be adjusted if the volume of wastewater being discharged to the public sewerage system is not more than 85% of the volume of water on which TES is based,
Between 1 April 1995 and the end of April 1996, the Drainage Authority has received 29 applications for variations of discharge factor. Out of these applications, 23 cases were approved, whilst the remaining 6 cases are still being processed. The approximate total reduction in charges is estimated to be about $0.2 million per month.
An
I now turn to part (b) of the question. When the Sewage Charging Scheme was introduced in April 1995, the Administration gave an undertaking to the Advisory Council on the Environment that the Trade Effluent Surcharge scheme would be reviewed after the scheme had been implemented for 12 months. interdepartmental working group comprising representatives of Planning, Environment & Lands Branch, Works Branch, Drainage Services Department, and the Environmental Protection Department was formed in February this year to take the review forward. A paper was submitted to the Legislative Council's Environmental Affairs Panel on 9 February 1996 to inform the Panel of the Administration's intention to review the TES. The Advisory Council on the Environment was also consulted on the review on 29 April 1996.
Preparation for the review is underway. The detailed scope is being drawn up. It will include a consultancy to provide a comparison of the TES with similar schemes elsewhere. It is envisaged that the consultancy will begin in August and be completed by the end of the year.
End