230 Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation
The department also inspects sub-standard man-made slopes in squatter areas and advises on clearance of squatter dwellings on slope safety grounds. In 2009, it inspected 20 slopes and recommended clearance of affected squatter dwellings.
The department carries out a wide range of activities to advise the community on slope safety. In 2009, more than 29 technical guidance documents in the form of publications, guidance notes and study reports were produced.
To support the New Senior Secondary curriculum and enhance the understanding of local teachers and students on slope safety issues, the department produced educational materials, including 14 booklets,
including 14 booklets, posters, promotional materials on various topics relating to geology and landslides in Hong Kong.
Water Supplies
Water from Guangdong
Hong Kong began receiving raw water from Dongjiang in 1965. This is now the major source of raw water for Hong Kong. To accommodate seasonal fluctuations in the local yield, the current agreement for Dongjiang water supply signed in December 2008 provides flexibility in the daily supply rate. This enables Hong Kong to have better control of the storage level in reservoirs, thereby minimising overflow more effectively and saving pumping costs. It also guarantees the long-term supply of water from Dongjiang.
Water Storage and Consumption
Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 2009, some 410 million cubic metres of water was in storage, compared with 415 million cubic metres a year earlier. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove held a total of 355 million cubic metres. Rainfall of 2 182 millimetres, eight per cent lower than the annual average of 2 383 millimetres, was recorded in 2009.
The average daily consumption of water in 2009 was 2.608 million cubic metres, compared with 2.612 million cubic metres in 2008. Some 952 million cubic metres of potable water was consumed in 2009, compared with 956 million cubic metres in 2008. In addition, 271 million cubic metres of sea water was used for flushing, compared with 275 million cubic metres in 2008.
Total Water Management
The Government is implementing the Total Water Management strategy that aims to manage the water demand and supply in an integrated, multi-sectoral and sustainable manner. The strategy puts emphasis on containing growth of water demand through conservation while the supply management will also be strengthened.
The key initiatives on water demand management include implementation of active leakage control, extension of the use of sea water for toilet flushing, stepping up public education on water conservation and promotion of the use of water saving devices. In September, the Government implemented a voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme to promote awareness of the public of the level of water
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