ENG-2013 — Page 251

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Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Under a preventive maintenance programme, the department continues to carry out inspection, de-silting and repair works for drainage systems. In 2013, over 2,442 kilometres of drains and watercourses were inspected and about $123 million was spent on maintenance work.

Slope Safety

The Civil Engineering and Development Department's comprehensive slope protection effort has brought about a substantial improvement in slope safety by improving standards and technology, ensuring the safety of new man-made slopes, improving the safety of existing man- made slopes, and mitigating natural terrain landslide risk. The department also issues public warnings and provides information, education and community advisory services on slope safety.

Under a long-term Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme, about $1 billion was spent in 2013 to upgrade 153 sub-standard government man-made slopes and mitigate the landslide risk of 30 natural hillside catchments, all landscaped to blend in with their surroundings. In addition, safety screening studies on 102 private man-made slopes were conducted.

In June, Hong Kong and Seoul entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on the mitigation of landslide hazards, which helps strengthen co-operation between the two cities. on slope safety.

Water Supplies

Water from Guangdong

Hong Kong has received raw water from Dongjiang since 1965 and this is now the city's major source of raw water. The current agreement for Dongjiang water supply maintains flexibility in the daily supply rate, securing a reliable source of supply of high quality fresh water to Hong Kong and avoiding wastage of precious water resources. About 612 million cubic meters of water was imported from Dongjiang in 2013.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 2013, some 386 million cubic metres of water was in storage. Rainfall of around 2,847 millimetres was recorded in 2013.

The average daily supply of fresh water in 2013 was around 2.56 million cubic metres. Some 933 million cubic metres of fresh water was consumed in 2013 and around 278 million cubic metres of sea water was supplied for toilet flushing.

Total Water Management

The government's Total Water Management strategy aims to manage water demand and supply in an integrated, multi-sectoral and sustainable manner. The key initiatives on water demand management include active leakage control, pressure management, extending the use of sea water for toilet flushing, enhancing public education on water conservation and promoting the use of water saving devices. In 2013, the government continued the voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme on showerheads for bathing, water taps, washing machines

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